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May 16, 2025
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Serbia to soon finish study on use of nuclear energy – minister

The preliminary study on the use of nuclear energy in Serbia should be completed by the end of the second quarter, according to Dubravka Đedović Handanović, the Minister of Mining and Energy.

A preliminary technical study for considering the peaceful use of nuclear energy is being prepared by French state-owned energy utility EDF and engineering company Egis Industries. The two companies won a tender organized by the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović told public broadcaster RTS that the study focuses on three aspects. The first one is developing a roadmap for the implementation of 19 institutional and infrastructural steps for a potential nuclear program.

Experts from Serbia’s TSO EMS are involved in the preparation of the study

The roadmap, in her words, must be in line with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The second topic is an analysis of available technologies, including conventional nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), and the third is to consider how a nuclear plant, depending on capacity, could be integrated into the country’s energy system.

Experts from Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije are providing help in the third part, she noted.

Serbia would need to choose a partner for the development of a nuclear power project

According to Đedović Handanović, SMRs are a technology under development for cheaper facilities, which require less time to be built than conventional reactors.

“It is up to us to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies, of which one is under development and the other is proven in the market, and say what we want to go with. Of course, if all the preconditions are met. Also, finally, with whom, as all the main developers of the technologies are certain companies from different parts of the world,” she stressed.

Baseload energy is crucial for the stability of the energy system

The minister pointed out that the IAEA prescribes clear steps each country must fulfill if it is considering the development of a nuclear program. It means no country can do anything on its own, she added.

“All those institutional and infrastructural prerequisites have to be checked, approved, verified, and ultimately monitored by the IAEA,” Đedović Handanović underlined.

Speaking about the long-term strategy, she recalled that baseload energy is crucial to secure the stability of the energy system. In Serbia it is currently provided from coal and natural gas, while nuclear plants can also play the role.

Natural gas, in her words, will serve as a transitional fuel for baseload energy for another 20-30 years, so it is necessary to find a long-term solution. Nuclear energy is one of the options, but it requires a lot of experience, time, and investment, Đedović Handanović noted.

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May 15, 2025
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Đokić: Republic of Srpska will connect 250 MW of solar in next three years

Over the next three years, the Republic of Srpska will connect 250 MW of new solar power plants to the grid, Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić announced at Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025), a two-day conference that kicked off today.

The Republic of Srpska, according to Đokić, has agreed concessions and partnerships for the construction of 2,200 MW of renewable energy power plants – wind, solar, and hydropower. Of the total capacity, state power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) has been awarded concessions for projects totaling 755 MW.

“The total value of the investments is about BAM 5.5 billion (EUR 2.81 billion), positioning the Republic of Srpska as a significant investor in the wider region,” he stressed.

Investments are needed in the transmission network

According to him, this is a great achievement considering the size and population of the Republic of Srpska, one of the two political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). However, these projects, which are planned to be realized in the next five years, will have to include investments in transmission capacities in order to upgrade the network.

With certain investments, according to him, the Republic of Srpska’s transmission network currently has the capacity to offtake all the electricity that will be produced in both the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other political entity of BiH.

Đokić expects support from European financial institutions

He noted that this requires significant financial resources, adding that he expects cooperation with the European Union’s (EU) financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), as well as the World Bank.

Regarding the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), he said that measures have been taken to change the energy mix. Until recently, the share of fossil fuels was 62%, but it has now dropped to 54%, he noted.

By 2028, the Republic of Srpska will have two new hydropower plants, of 159 MW and 36 MW respectively, built by ERS, as well as one that is being finalized by a private investor, according to Đokić. “In the next three years, we will complete solar power plants with a total capacity of 250 MW, possibly more,” he said.

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May 15, 2025
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Negative prices threaten future payments to Greek renewable energy producers

Greece’s special account for renewables, which covers support payments to renewable energy producers, turned positive again in 2024 after years of instability.

The account is currently manageable, according to data from the Renewable Energy Sources Operator & Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP). The update is bringing certainty to the market and reassures investors that their power plants won’t come up short.

For the end of 2025, initial projections show a deficit of EUR 173 million, which would be covered by a EUR 70 million reserve and proceeds from the taxation of diesel sales.

Lower wholesale prices reduce income

However, DAPEEP’s leadership is concerned about the future balance. The reason is the effect of zero or negative wholesale power prices as they are becoming more common than before.

In the trading session for May 1 on the day-ahead market of the Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEx), a record low hourly price was registered, EUR 50 per MWh below zero. The event occurred amid high solar production in combination with low demand on a holiday, and similar conditions in neighboring markets. The authorities are expected to allow the formation of negative prices in the balancing market, starting in June. It is expected to lead to more common zero and negative prices.

Low market prices harm the special renewables account, according to DAPEEP’s new CEO Dimosthenis Voivontas. Consumers benefit in such situations but they reduce income for the operator.

So far, the exact effect of negative prices remains to be seen, as there is limited data to analyze. Nevertheless, energy storage must be brought online quickly, together with demand response capabilities, says Viovontas.

Producers switch off to avoid negative prices

Negative hourly prices have led producers to switch off their renewable energy plants lately in order to avoid a financial loss. It is making it more difficult for the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE) to conduct daily scheduling. The authorities are worried that a sudden disconnection of large capacities could result in instability, in light of the recent blackout in Spain and Portugal.

The focus is on aggregators, which represent groups of renewable electricity facilities in the market. Currently they lack the means to completely control their production in real time. Discussions are underway about a mutually acceptable solution.

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May 15, 2025
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Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 – energy market reforms accelerate integration into EU

Electricity market coupling with neighbors in the European Union is a major factor in the EU integration of Energy Community contracting parties and the Western Balkans, alongside deeper coordination within the region, the establishment of energy interconnections, investments in renewables and progress in carbon pricing, top officials pointed out at the opening of Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2025.

Founder and Editor of Balkan Green Energy News Branislava Jovičić said the current changes in the energy sector can already be called an energy revolution.

The third Belgrade Energy Forum, BEF 2025, started today in Serbia’s capital city, welcoming four hundred participants from more than 30 countries from the region, Europe and beyond. The two-day conference, organized by Balkan Green Energy News, features eight panels with over 50 officials, executives and prominent energy experts.

Serbia was the first in the region to meet the preconditions for electricity market coupling with neighboring countries in the European Union and Energy Community, said Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović. She added that the technical process would be completed within 18 months after the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) conduct the necessary steps.

Electricity market coupling will be completed within 18 months when the technical process starts

“It will be a historic event for our country for its benefits for citizens and companies, as it will ensure a more stable electricity supply and access to more affordable energy prices. It will turn us into an equal member within the region but also the EU as concerns the energy sector,” Đedović Handanović stated.

The SEEPEX power exchange has already prepared implementation projects with its counterparts in Hungary and Bulgaria for market coupling on their borders, the minister stressed.

Up to EUR 15 billion needs to be invested in energy

Đedović Handanović also pointed out that domestic and European regulators certified Serbia’s gas transmission system operator Transportgas for the first time. The start of construction of the Serbia-Hungary oil pipeline is expected to begin early next year at the latest, the minister said.

The baseline for the development plan for energy infrastructure and energy efficiency should be completed by the end of May, she revealed. It identifies the need for EUR 14 billion to EUR 15 billion in investments in the next ten years, according to Đedović Handanović. Renewables and new hydropower potential account for EUR 7 billion, she said.

Serbia will double the electricity transmission capacity with Hungary and increase it with Bulgaria, the minister asserted.

Serbia is frontrunner in region with its progress toward market coupling

As the Western Balkan region confronts the trailing trilemma of decarbonization, affordability, and energy security, the need for an accelerated integration with the European Union has never been more urgent, Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski said.

The organization provides a platform for the process, a strategic window of opportunity to inspire market confidence now, not in years or months to come, he explained. Lorkowski said it implies deeper coordination among Energy Community contracting parties in removing cross-border bottlenecks and harmonizing market operations.

Above all, there is an urgent need to move forward on electricity market integration with the EU, so the region can fully benefit from it in 2027, he noted, underscoring that Serbia is the frontrunner.

Exporters of electricity to the EU can attend a technical consultative meeting in Brussels on July 1

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is another urgent priority, Lorkowski said. He announced that the Energy Community Secretariat and European Commission would organize a technical consultative meeting in Brussels on July 1 for electricity exporters to the EU.

The establishment of domestic carbon pricing mechanisms is inevitable, Lorkowski warned. The question is how to introduce domestic carbon pricing and keep energy prices affordable for households and competitive for businesses, he told the audience at BEF 2025.

“The way forward is clearly defined, and the conditions linked to energy market reform and decarbonization are well known. And I’m, frankly speaking, very optimistic that progress on these issues can be substantive in months and years to come,” the secretariat’s head stressed.

Jovičić: Energy revolution underway

Energy and climate issues are among the most important ones in the world today, as well as in Southeastern Europe, Founder and Editor of Balkan Green Energy News Branislava Jovičić said. All stakeholders, aware of the necessity of rapid changes and prudent solutions, are working toward a secure energy supply and decarbonization, she added.

“Last year we spoke about the energy transition. This year we can freely call the changes in the energy sector an energy revolution,” Jovičić stated. The five pillars of the energy revolution are solar and wind power, battery storage, digitalization, nuclear energy and decentralized generation and consumption, she stressed.

Balkan Green Energy News is a leading energy media website in the region and one of the top 50 in the world, Branislava Jovičič said.

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May 15, 2025
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CWP Europe signs PPA, CfD for its Solarina PV project with Serbia’s EPS

CWP Europe signed a power purchase agreement (PPA), including balancing responsibility, and a contract for difference (CfD) for its Solarina photovoltaic project, with Serbia’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).

Solarina is a special purpose vehicle or SPV for a photovoltaic park of 150 MW in connection capacity. Its site is near the city of Zaječar in eastern Serbia. The developer, CWP Europe, won a CfD in February for 105 MW at the country’s second solar power auction. All other projects were for 10 MW at most.

Executive Vice President of CWP Europe Maja Turković signed a PPA and the contracts for difference and balancing responsibility for Solarina with Assistant to CEO of EPS for Power Portfolio Management David Žarković.

Largest single PPA ever signed for solar power with EPS

The agreement marks a major milestone in Serbia’s energy transition – it is the largest single PPA ever signed for a solar project with EPS, Turković pointed out. “We thank the Ministry of Mining and Energy and EPS for their trust and another opportunity to jointly contribute to a more stable and greener energy future for Serbia,” she added.

CWP Europe has a project pipeline of more than 10 GW in Southeastern Europe, Moldova and Ukraine

All green electricity generated by the Solarina solar park will be supplied to the domestic market at a competitive price, enhancing the stability and sustainability of the country’s energy supply, CWP Europe added. Of note, the CfD is for EUR 52.89 per MWh.

“The continuation of the cooperation confirms once more that EPS is a reliable partner and associate to everyone whose business activity involves green energy. In addition, this way we also confirm the joint dedication to Serbia’s energy transition and the development of renewable energy sources, as EPS will offtake all produced energy and it will remain in our country,” Žarković stated.

PPAs for projects Solarina, Vetrozelena are both for entire output

Serbia’s state-owned power utility has the same arrangement since 2023 for the Vetrozelena wind power project, which was developed by CWP Europe and also won market premiums, at the first round of renewable energy auctions. Both PPAs are for the entire output.

The company has a project portfolio of more than 10 GW in total for wind and solar power and battery energy storage systems in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Croatia, Moldova and Ukraine.

CWP is a silver sponsor of the two-day Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2025, which is starting tomorrow. Maja Turković will participate in the panel discussion ‘Energy revolution underway – uniting efforts to deliver green, intelligent and sustainable energy solutions’.

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May 14, 2025
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Electrohold Trade partners with TMH to optimize 2.5 GWh of battery storage in Bulgaria

Early next year, The Mobility House (TMH) is set to ramp up the aggregation of Electrohold’s energy assets in Bulgaria under a newly signed deal. It focuses on the planned 2.5 GWh in battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Electricity trading firm Electrohold Trade selected The Mobility House (TMH) to provide advanced aggregation and trading software. The solution will optimize the Bulgarian firm’s portfolio, enhance returns from its energy assets, and support the electricity system’s balance and stability, according to the announcement.

The subsidiary of Eurohold Bulgaria’s or Eurohold Group (Evrohold) manages a pool of photovoltaic assets and battery energy storage systems. The assets are expected to reach 1 GW and 2.5 GWh, respectively. The full commercial rollout is targeted to begin in the last quarter of 2025, with further rampup expected into early 2026, the company said.

TMH GOING Far beyond traditional feed-in models

Germany-based TMH is active since 2016. Electrohold Trade said it is leveraging the aggregator’s technology to commercialize energy storage systems and maximize returns on its solar power assets through advanced flexibility and intermittence trading – going far beyond traditional feed-in models.

TMH stressed that Electrohold’s energy storage initiative is the largest in Europe.

Colocation project with signaling impact

A defining feature of the initiative is its colocation concept, where battery storage systems are installed directly adjacent to solar parks. It enables optimal utilization of both assets, the companies said. By directly linking them, the fluctuating output of renewable energy can be more effectively managed – enhancing grid stability while minimizing the need for expensive grid expansions.

It not only results in improved grid flexibility, but also contributes to the grid’s better balancing, the update reads. The project positions battery storage systems as a central element in Bulgaria’s future energy landscape, leveraging advanced algo trading software and innovative incentive structures to unlock the full potential of renewable integration, the partners added.

“By strategically employing colocation solutions and the latest technology, we are creating a platform that is not only economically attractive but also significantly enhances the technical resilience of the Bulgarian power grid at lower costs,” said Eurohold Bulgaria’s Chair of the Supervisory Board Assen Christov.

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