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May 13, 2025
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Citizens, activists in Bulgaria oppose wind farm project that would destroy forest

In the municipality of Avren in Bulgaria, citizens and activists will gather on May 18 to express their opposition to a plan to build a wind farm with 29 turbines, which implies the clearing of 30 hectares of forest.

The eastern Bulgarian municipality of Avren is home to valuable forest ecosystems and it lies along one of the most important bird migration routes in Europe – the Via Pontica. A local forest protection initiative, which is organizing a protest on May 18 against a wind farm project, said the decision to change the forest land designation was made without public consultation or an environmental impact assessment, arguing it was against the law.

The said natural resources are of both national and international importance for biodiversity conservation and maintaining the ecological balance of the Black Sea region, protest organizers claim. Although the wind farm project may appear green at first glance, the construction of 29 turbines would require cutting down 30 hectares of forest, they warned. Moreover, the project is located near protected areas within the Natura 2000 network and intersects a key migratory route for birds.

Nearly 9,000 citizens have signed a petition calling for a moratorium on projects affecting forests

Almost 9,000 citizens have signed a petition demanding a moratorium on all projects affecting forests in the area until a comprehensive assessment of cumulative environmental impacts is conducted. They are calling for the suspension of the procedure to amend the general urban development plan and for halting the project, which they deem illegal and harmful to both nature and people.

They are demanding a full and independent environmental impact assessment, including a compatibility evaluation with Natura 2000, the organization of a transparent public debate involving the local community, scientists, and environmentalists, as well as to consider alternative locations outside of sensitive ecological zones.

On the other hand, the company developing the project claims the turbines would be equipped with thermal cameras and sensors to detect approaching birds, and that the wind turbines would automatically shut down if necessary. It added that the minimum distance from residential areas would be between 850 and 1,200 meters, in line with regulations.

The local authority supports the wind farm project. Mayor Emanuel Manolov said about fifty jobs would be created and that the local budget would receive between EUR 1 million and EUR 1.5 million annually.

A protest was also held in Kyustendil against wind and solar projects in nearby mountain areas

Citizens of the Kyustendil municipality have also voiced their opposition to wind turbines. On April 30, a protest was held in Kyustendil against the construction of a wind farm on Osogovo mountain and the expansion of a solar power plant on the Konjavska mountain. The municipal leadership and assembly have supported the citizens’ demands.

Bulgarian citizens have been fighting wind turbines for over a decade

Since 2012, no new wind farms have been put into operation in Bulgaria, mainly due to administrative barriers and legal uncertainty. Late last year, citizens from four districts – Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, and Varna – protested in Varna, demanding a referendum on the construction of solar and wind power plants on agricultural land.

Earlier, the municipal assembly of Dobrichka (also known as Dobrich-selska – Dobrich rural) voted to ban the conversion of agricultural land into construction land for wind farms. A similar decision was made by the local parliament in General Toshevo. German company wpd plans to install wind turbines in both municipalities.

In 2023, authorities in Vetrino blocked CWP’s massive wind energy project. That same year, a draft law on offshore wind power in Bulgaria sparked opposition from fishermen, the tourism industry, nongovernmental organizations, and local authorities in the coastal city of Varna and its surroundings. It contributed to the fall of the government at the time, and the legislative process didn’t get far.

Citizens in other countries covered by Balkan Green Energy News are also resisting wind power projects. Last year, residents of several villages near Livno in Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to halt the planned construction of the Orlovača wind farm. Around the same time in Serbia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued nature protection conditions that prevented the construction of the Čestobrodica wind farm.

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May 13, 2025
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Blackout in Spain, Portugal started with 2,200 MW power production loss

The recent blackout in Spain and Portugal started with the loss of electricity production in power plants with a total capacity of 2,200 MW in the south of Spain, according to an update from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

ENTSO-E published the sequence of relevant events from the incident on April 28, which caused a total blackout in Spain and Portugal. The system was fully restored after 16 hours. A small area in France, close to the border with Spain, was also affected by the incident, albeit for a very limited duration, the organization said.

At the end of 2024, Spain’s installed capacity for electricity production was 129 GW or 129,000 MW.

It was one of the most serious incidents so far, on a European scale, and the second one in just ten months in the Continental European Synchronous Area, formerly known as UCTE. It includes most of the European Union as well as Turkey and Southeastern Europe. The first blackout, in the Balkans, occurred on June 21 last year.

ENTSO-E and its member transmission system operators (TSOs), the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), national regulatory authorities (NRAs), and regional coordination centers (RCCs) have set up a joint expert panel to investigate the event.

During the half hour before the incident, two periods of power and frequency swings were observed in the Continental European Synchronous Area

The blackout was the result of a complex sequence of events, ENTSO-E said. It published a preliminary chronology.

During the half hour before the incident, two periods of power and frequency swings were observed in the Continental European Synchronous Area, between 12:03 and 12:07 and between 12:19 and 12:21, respectively.

“The TSOs of Spain (Red Electrica) and France (RTE) took actions to mitigate these oscillations. At the moment of the incident, there were no oscillations and the power system variables were within normal operation range,” the update reads.

Data so far has yielded the following sequence of events during the incident:

  1. Starting at 12:32:57 and within 20 seconds afterwards, presumably a series of different generation trips were registered in the south of Spain, accounting for an initially estimated total of 2,200 MW. No generation trips were observed in Portugal and France. As a result, the frequency decreased and a voltage increase is observed in Spain and Portugal.
  2. Between 12:33:18 and 12:33:21, the frequency of the Iberian Peninsula power system continued to decrease, touching 48 hertz. The automatic load shedding defense plans of Spain and Portugal were activated.
  3. At 12:33:21, the alternating current overhead lines between France and Spain were disconnected by protection devices against loss of synchronism.
  4. At 12:33:24, the Iberian electricity system collapsed completely, and the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines between France and Spain stopped transmitting power.

As soon as the disruption of the electricity supply occurred, the affected TSOs worked together in a coordinated effort to restore power in the affected region of France, as well as in Spain and Portugal.

The restoration process in Spain was finished at 4:00 on April 29

The restoration process started at 12:44 on April 28 and finished at 4:00 the following night. The restoration of the system was initiated by a black start of hydropower plants in Spain and Portugal.

The restoration process of the transmission grid in Portugal was completed at 00:22, data showed.

According to ENTSO-E, the investigation will be split into two phases. First, the panel would collect and analyze all available data on the incident to reconstruct the events of April 28 and determine the causes of the blackout. The insights would be completed and published in a factual report.

In the second phase, for the final report, the panel is tasked with establishing recommendations to help prevent similar incidents.

ENTSO-E was also in charge of the investigation of the Balkans blackout. The organization published the final report in March.

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May 13, 2025
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Significant step for citizen energy in BiH – Republic of Srpska enables establishment of first renewable energy communities in region

The recent adoption of the rulebook on renewable energy communities in the Republic of Srpska is a big step in enabling citizens, local authorities, and businesspeople in Bosnia and Herzegovina to join forces and produce electricity for their own needs. It was a key step in introducing citizen energy. The concept is a great opportunity for the Balkans, because it can provide many benefits like lowering bills for consumers, and a sustainable energy transition, according to Damir Miljević, a member of the Regional Center for Sustainable Energy Transition (RESET) from BiH.

The new rulebook on renewable energy communities in the Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, defines the activities of renewable energy communities (REC).

Energy transition consultant Damir Miljević explained to Balkan Green Energy News that REC refers to the production of electricity from renewables, while citizen energy communities (CEC) include all types of energy. The rulebook adopted by the Republic of Srpska, in his words, is the first in the region. It is focused on enabling the production of electricity for self-consumption (prosumers) primarily from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.

Energy communities are an opportunity for citizens and businesspeople lacking suitable roofs for photovoltaics

He says the rulebook finally created the conditions at the local level – where the energy transition is supposed to be conducted in the first place – for citizens, local authorities, and businesspeople to join forces and produce electricity by installing a facility together. They can use some of the produced electricity for their own needs and inject the rest into the grid.

Citizens and small entrepreneurs who don’t have suitable roofs for solar power plants and municipal authorities with many roofs at their disposal as well as their own land can jointly finance and use such facilities. They will benefit both on the individual and collective level, Miljević pointed out. Without the communities framework, it wouldn’t be possible, in his opinion.

“In addition, conditions are created through RES communities to cede a part of the energy that the community’s facility generates, if the members of the community agree, to vulnerable categories of the population, contributing to the fight against energy poverty that way,” said Miljević, who is among the speakers at the upcoming Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025).

Miljević: Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske needs to do its part

The rulebook’s entry into force enabled citizens, local firms and local communities to establish renewable energy communities, Miljević said and added that the only serious remaining obstacle is the refusal of government-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) to sign new supply contracts.

Prosumers in the entity can’t fully exercise their rights, despite an order from the Regulatory Commission for Energy of the Republic of Srpska, as they haven’t yet received the new supply contracts from ERS, he pointed out.

Citizen energy is a great opportunity for Balkan states

Damir Miljević (photo: Balkan Green Energy News)

Miljević stressed that rulebooks are among the steps in introducing citizen energy. Miljević noted that the other parts of BiH haven’t established regulatory frameworks. The Brčko District has no bylaws, while the Federation of BiH has adopted the rules for renewable energy communities, but hasn’t simplified its rules for connecting prosumers and the communities to the grid.

Production onsite for consumption should become priority in energy policies and for decarbonization efforts in the Western Balkans

In Miljević’s opinion, the resistance is enormous and partly caused by the lack of recognition of the importance and role of citizen energy in countries such as the Balkans.

In contrast to developed countries – for instance, household consumption in the European Union has a 25% share in total final electricity consumption – in BiH and Serbia it is 42%, and in Montenegro it amounts to around 50%, he noted.

It means the concept of producing for consumption onsite should be a priority in energy policy and for decarbonization efforts in the Western Balkans, Miljević stressed. It implies putting solar panels on roofs on a significant scale, which is the essence of citizen energy, he added.

Citizen energy isn’t a priority in domestic and international policies implemented in the region

In addition to reducing electricity bills for customers, the concept contributes to reducing distribution and transmission losses and required investments in new grid capacities and new large power plants, and improves the security of supply and energy independence of a country, according to Miljević.

Citizen energy, in his words, is the only solution for a safe and sustainable energy transition and decarbonization of domestic power consumption, but unfortunately it isn’t a priority in domestic and international policies implemented in the region.

The lobbying effect of investors in the market shouldn’t be underestimated either, nor the fear and resistance within the politics and state-owned power utilities to the decentralization, democratization, and demonopolization of power generation that citizen energy brings, Miljević concluded.

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May 13, 2025
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Second HVDC link from mainland Greece to Crete coming online

Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) is completing the last elements of the Ariadne Interconnection project, one of the deepest subsea links in the world. The company plans to switch on the double high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable between Attica and Crete by the end of the month. In addition, IPTO and its Italian counterpart Terna are developing a project for a second interconnector between them.

Final tests and equipment checks are being completed at the Damasta Converter Station in Heraklion ahead of the start of the trial operation of the Crete-Attica electricity link. The management of IPTO, also known by its Greek acronym Admie, and the HDVC Ariadne Interconnection project firm inspected the site.

The transmission system operator said it plans to energize it this week by injecting reactive power into the electricity system in the country’s biggest island.

The transmission of active power from Attica to Crete is set to begin in late May, the update adds. Ariadne consists of two 500 kV cables of  500 MW each. One end is in Pachi in the city of Megara, between Athens and Corinth, and the other one in Korakia in Crete. The submarine and underground cables were tested earlier.

Line on mainland is under trial electrification

At the same time, on the Attica side, a trial electrification of a 400 kV cable system is taking place between the Koumoundouros Converter Station and the adjacent Extra High Voltage Center. Ariadne Interconnection is the largest and most complex electricity transmission project in Greece so far, IPTO underscored.

Furthermore, a 150 kV transmission line between Chania and Damasta recently received the decision on the approval of environmental conditions (AEPO), the company added. It is considered necessary for an optimal combined use of Crete’s two interconnections with the mainland, the announcement reads. The first one, from Peloponnese, was established in 2021.

Ariadne, worth more than EUR 1.1 billion, is one of the three deepest interconnections in the world. The HVDC line’s capacity matches the interconnector to Sardinia, the strongest power link so far with an island.

The project is co-financed through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF 2014-2020 and NSRF 2021-2027), via the European Union, with up to EUR 535.5 million. The idea for the endeavor dates back to the 1990s.

The contractors are Nexans and Prysmian. Each was responsible for one of the two cables while the latter also laid two submarine telecommunication lines.

Erdoğan again taunts Great Sea Interconnector by promising alternative cable

Ariadne is part of a proposed corridor with the Great Sea Interconnector project, formerly EuroAsia Interconnector, envisaged going to Cyprus and Israel. The Crete-Cyprus investment has been suffering heavy delays amid financing issues, ownership disputes and Turkey’s threats.

In early May, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Cypriot Turkish breakaway republic, recognized only by Turkey, and promised an interconnection with his country. He compared it to an existing water pipeline.

“Did we bring water from under the sea to Northern Cyprus from Turkey? Now we are in the second stage. God willing, we will bring electricity and with that we will cover the needs of Northern Cyprus in water and electricity,” Erdoğan stated.

Notably, IPTO denied yesterday a press report that it is considering the possibility, together with Nexans, the contractor, to alter the route and connect Crete with the Dodecanese Islands instead of with Cyprus. The archipelago includes Rhodes, Astypalaia (Astypalea), Kos and Tilos.

EBRD is providing a grant for the first studies for an interconnection between Greece and Egypt

In other news, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Elica Interconnector, a member of the Copelouzos Group, signed a grant agreement for the first studies for the planned Egypt-Greece (GREGY) electricity interconnection.

IPTO and its Italian counterpart Terna signed today a memorandum of understanding to install a second undersea HDVC power line. The GR.ITA 2 project is for a double cable, two times 500 MW, scheduled for completion in 2031. The two sides earmarked a total of EUR 1.9 billion.

The existing 500 MW interconnector, in operation since 2002, is temporarily down due to a malfunction.

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May 13, 2025
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Everything is ready for Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 – welcome!

Everything is ready for the third Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2025. On May 14 and 15, the conference will gather four hundred participants from more then 30 countries from the region, Europe, and beyond.

Participants of the Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025) will have the opportunity to hear from speakers from the European Union and five countries in the region and exchange views. Eight panels featuring more than 50 officials, executives and prominent energy experts will try to untangle the currently most important issues in the energy sector.

Representatives of governments, regulatory agencies, regional and international institutions and organizations as well as the business community will outline their future moves, which is invaluable information given the new reality of a turbulent geopolitical landscape.

Latest information on the largest project for the installation of solar power plants in the region and beyond

Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski and Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović will open the event. One of the key speakers is Christian Zinglersen, director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

The ministerial panel consists of ministers and other officials from Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and the Republic of Srpska, which is one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Representatives of the Hyundai Engineering – UGT Renewables consortium will summarize the next steps in the largest solar power project in the region and beyond. The consortium is the diamond sponsor of the event this year as well.

It entails solar power plants with a total connected power of 1,000 MW, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) of 200 MW in overall capability and 400 MWh in capacity.

It is a joint project with Serbian state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije. The partners took another important step this week by signing a grid connection contract with the country’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije.

Hitachi’s cutting-edge technological solutions are indispensable in Southeast Europe

Keynote speakers Seung-Won Lee, Vice President of Hyundai Engineering, and Chan Wo Park, Global Executive Advisor at UGT Renewables, will present the project.

Hitachi Energy‘s cutting-edge technological solutions are indispensable in Southeast Europe. Some examples of its contribution to the energy transition of the region are the largest solar power plant in the Balkans – Apriltsi in Bulgaria, of 250 MW, as well as the second wind farm in North Macedonia – Bogoslovec, with a capacity of 36 MW.

Together with the Association of Serbian Energy Intensive Industry, Hitachi Energy is in the group of silver sponsors of BEF 2025.

The association was founded by Metalfer Group, Elixir Group, Lafarge Serbia, Moravacem (part of CRH) and TITAN Cementara Kosjerić. They are producers of steel, fertilizers and cement driven by a vision of sustainable development, industrial innovation and regulatory clarity.

Zečević: Decarbonization must be shaped by strategy, not imposed by circumstance

BEF 2025 will be attended by the association’s manager Stanislava Simić, Metalfer Group president, Branko Zečević and Lafarge Serbia CEO Dimitrije Knjeginjić.

“As Europe enforces carbon accountability through CBAM, Serbia and the Western Balkans must not remain a regulatory blind spot. Without our own regionally adapted carbon border policy, we risk being overwhelmed by carbon-intensive imports, eroding both our industry and climate goals,” Zečević stressed.

The association calls for a regional, synchronized approach – one that levels the playing field, accelerates innovation, and positions the Western Balkans as a credible partner in Europe’s green transition, he added. Decarbonization must be shaped by strategy, not imposed by circumstance, according to Zečević.

Batteries are the stars of BEF 2025

The panel ‘Energy storage system market in SEE: trends and forecasts’ has attracted great interest.

One of the panelists is Ioanna Barouni, Research Associate in Aurora Energy Research, a reliable energy market analyst and a knowledge partner of the forum. The company’s analysis unveils answers to questions that everybody asks – politicians, investors and regulators alike. For instance, one burning issue is the effect of cannibalization in solar power on wholesale power prices.

Aurora recently presented its first forecast for the Western Balkans, based on investment activity. The firm now provides forecasting services for Albania, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cerović: BEF is a key event bringing together industry experts

Financing battery energy storage systems is a job banks such as UniCredit Bank Serbia, a bronze sponsor of the conference.

“I’m delighted to once again represent UniCredit Bank Serbia, in BEF, a key event that brings together industry experts and leaders in the energy transition in Southeast Europe. As the global market moves towards decarbonization and greater use of renewable sources, the role of energy storage systems becomes increasingly important,” said Svetlana Cerović, Head of Specialized Lending at UniCredit Bank Serbia.

She is also last year’s winner of the Female Leader in Sustainable Energy award.

Fortis brings its vast experience in investments in energy storage

Fortis is bringing its vast experience in investments in energy storage. In February, the firm inked a deal for batteries for North Macedonia’s largest PV plant, Oslomej, while a 36 MWh battery in Serbia is in the pipeline. Fortis has also signed a framework agreement with PowerChina on joint investments in renewable energy projects.

Nikola Oklobdžija, CEO of Fortis Energy for Eastern Europe, will present the company’s vision.

Renewable Energy Insurance Broker, a bronze sponsor, was one of the key factors for the largest photovoltaic plant in Romania. It provided insurance packages for every phase of development of the 155 MW Rătești facility. REIB is a specialized insurance intermediary focused exclusively on the renewable energy sector.

Tailored insurance solutions improve project bankability and long-term security, according to the firm.

Four companies are exhibitors

BEF 2025 has an exhibition segment, too. One of the companies showcasing its activities is ScadaWatt, which develops smart and reliable solutions for power plants. The company provides remote monitoring, real-time control, and AI-powered analytics to improve efficiency and reduce losses.

SciEngineer and Zarja Elektronika will also present their services and solutions. SciEngineer is the exclusive representative of MathWorks, COMSOL, and Speedgoat in Central and Eastern Europe. Their solutions reduce development time, cut costs, improve reliability, and accelerate time-to-market.

Zarja Elektronika is a leading Slovenian company specializing in advanced fire detection and alarm systems. With over 40 years of experience, it provides innovative, reliable, and tailor-made safety solutions for industrial, commercial, and residential environments.

DRI and YEO are friends of the conference

The Chinese company SANY Renewable Energy, which owns the Alibunar 1 and Alibunar 2 wind farms, will also have an exhibition stand.

DRI and YEO are joining the group of the friends of the conference. DRI is an Amsterdam-headquartered renewables developer and a subsidiary of the DTEK Group, one of the biggest private investors in Ukraine’s energy sector.

Joffroy Beckers, Head of PPA, will speak at a panel dedicated to the topic.

In January, DRI said it planned to start building the 120 MW Ljubovo wind power plant in Croatia in 2027. It revealed it right after it completed a 60 MW solar power plant in Romania.

Turkey-based YEO is active in more than 30 countries, delivering turnkey solutions in energy and industrial systems. In the Balkans, in addition to its energy expertise role, the company invests in renewable energy projects.

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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
May 12, 2025
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Bulgaria’s IBEX launches guarantees of origin market

Four participants registered last month at the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange’s guarantees of origin platform, creating a national market. Separately, IBEX is preparing to roll out a 15-minute market time unit in the Single Day-Ahead Coupling on June 11 with other European nominated electricity market operators.

The Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) said it launched a market for guarantees of origin (GOs) of electricity with the Sustainable Energy Development Agency (SEDA or, in Bulgarian, AUER). It is part of the efforts to develop a liberalized energy market and promote renewable energy, it added.

IBEX is Bulgaria’s nominated electricity market operator or NEMO. The country’s legal framework envisages issuing GOs monthly, quarterly and semianually.

After the launch of registration on March 31, four companies joined last month: Aurubis Bulgaria, Armaco Energy, Energo-Pro Energy Services and KER Toki Power, the announcement reads.

No timeline for kickoff yet

IBEX, solely owned by the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE), reiterated that its new platform provides for trading with clear rules, guaranteed payments and price transparency. Notably, there is no timeline for the kickoff.

The preparations for the rollout of a GO market lasted several years. The certificates are issued by renewable energy producers. Consumers buy them to prove their progress in decarbonization.

One GO covers 1 MWh of electricity production or consumption. When SEDA achieves integration with the European guarantees of origin system, the participants in the Bulgarian platform will be able to trade abroad as well. Neighboring Greece introduced GOs last June.

IBEX, founded in 2014, operates day-ahead and intraday markets and a mechanism for bilateral contracts.

Europe transitioning to 15-minute products in day-ahead electricity market

In other recent news, the Bulgarian NEMO co-signed a statement with its counterparts across Europe, affirming the commitment to transition to a 15-minute market time unit (MTU) within the Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) project on June 11.

The group includes Hellenic Energy Exchange – HEnEx (EnExGroup), Energy Exchange Austria (EXAA), Nord Pool, Croatian Power Exchange (CROPEX) and the Romanian Commodities Exchange (BRM).

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