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May 7, 2025
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Kosovo* launches reconstruction of coal power plant unit

Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK) began the reconstruction and modernization of one of the two units in its Kosovo B coal power plant. The works are part of a EUR 56.5 million project for the entire facility.

Kosovo* relies almost entirely on lignite in domestic electricity production, with a 92% share, the highest in the world. The failure of a gas pipeline project in 2021 and the sluggish development of wind and solar power projects have prompted the reconstruction of both old coal plants.

The works have officially started at last at Kosovo B, two years after government-owned power utility KEK signed a contract with General Electric. The entire project is worth EUR 56.5 million. Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the company is financing the investment on its own.

The B2 unit, commissioned in 1984, is undergoing modernization and B1 is supposed to be next. It is one year older.

Investment cutting pollutant emmissions by 60%

The government said the project would increase annual output at Kosovo B by more than 600 GWh. According to the energy strategy through 2031, the two units had 260 MW each in effective capacity in 2022. It compares to 339 MW from when they were built.

Acting Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli said the coal plant’s operating life would be extended by 20 years. The plan is to cut the emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides by 60%.

Capital repairs will be required once every ten years instead of every five years now, she underscored. Rizvanolli claimed the investment would cut power imports by EUR 23 million per year and boost exports by a minimum of EUR 20 million.

Budget much higher for reconstruction of one unit in Kosovo A coal plant

In February, KEK issued a call for the reconstruction of the Kosovo A3. The coal plant unit is 55 years old. The project is worth EUR 137.3 million.

The capacity would be raised to 215 MW from the current range of 120 MW to 140 MW. A3 originally had 200 MW.

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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 7, 2025
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Self-consumption capacity set to break 1 GW in Greece

Renewable energy projects for self-consumption are expected to reach 1 GW this year in Greece.

According to the Green Tank, at the end of March 2025, self-consumption capacity amounted to 937.6 MW, of which the overwhelming majority (871.9 MW) was in photovoltaics.

It should be noted that last year the government introduced a big change in the segment. The net metering regime was abandoned in favor of net billing, following European guidelines.

Insufficient capacity limit

There were 32,955 self-consumption units in the country at the end of the first quarter. Projects in operation plus remaining applications are estimated at 1,865 MW, which is near the 2 GW ceiling, set by law.

Energy communities, small companies, farmers and individuals have asked for the available capacity to be increased.

They also complain that the Hellenic Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) is too slow with connecting them to the grid. The operator has mostly been integrating units in the category of up to 10.8 kW, while ignoring larger projects.

The Renewable Energy Sources Operator and Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP) began accepting net billing applications for projects of over 10.8 kW only last month. It means it needs to accelerate connections to keep pace.

Renewable energy aggregators have warned that the regulatory framework is unclear when it comes to such projects and their representation in the market.

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May 7, 2025
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Croatia earmarks EUR 1.6 billion for Social Plan for Climate Policy

Croatia plans to achieve an efficient and just green transition by implementing its EUR 1.6 billion Social Plan for Climate Policy.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has presented the Social Plan for Climate Policy and the European Union’s upcoming Emissions Trading System 2 (EU ETS 2) in Croatia’s capital Zagreb.

The event was organized as part of the process of developing the country’s Social Plan for Climate Policy. According to the ministry, the document outlines the green transition and includes measures and investments that would benefit vulnerable households, micro businesses, and users of transportation services.

The plan is being prepared within the framework of the Social Fund for Climate Policy, which is part of the EU’s Fit-for-55 legislative package. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 from the 1990 level.

The social plan will be funded with proceeds from EU ETS 2

The new EU ETS 2 will cover CO2 emissions from buildings, road traffic, and small firms. Funding for the social plan will be secured from proceeds from the supplementary carbon pricing mechanism.

Minister Marija Vučković noted that after the public debate is over, the Social Plan for Climate Policy needs to be sent to the European Commission for adoption.

“With more than EUR 1.6 billion, our goal is to secure an efficient and just green transition that won’t leave behind the most vulnerable members of our society – households at risk of energy poverty, micro enterprises with limited adaptation capacities, but also the citizens that have difficulties accessing public transportation,” she pointed out.

The ministry is aware of the challenges that the transition carries, so it places special focus on mitigating socio-economic consequences and preventing risks affecting the most vulnerable people, as well as on education.

The plan defines various measures

The plan includes various measures. Some examples are renovating family houses with the worst energy performances, improving the availability of public transport in suburban, rural, and remote areas, subsidizing the purchase of vehicles with zero emissions, and providing direct financial incentives.

Representatives of the ministry Ana Juras and Predrag Božac described the operation and the establishment of the new part of the Emissions Trading System and presented the sectors that it would cover. They also spoke about the first round of measures and investments from the plan.

In another presentation, the audience learned the effect of EU ETS 2 on the prices of fossil fuels, the ministry said.

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May 7, 2025
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Croatia’s Pag island to produce green hydrogen using wave energy

The island town of Novalja could become one of the first in Croatia to begin the production of green hydrogen, and a rare example in the region. Moreover, the local authority would utilize innovative technology.

Croatia adopted its national strategy for hydrogen until 2050 in March 2022. The first hydrogen production facility could be installed in Križevci, according to a report from last year.

The local authority in Novalja on the island of Pag said it started its ambitious and innovative Zero Emission Corridor (ZEC) H2 project with the goal of establishing the production and distribution of green hydrogen – using only renewable energy.

The project represents a key step in the small town’s transition towards sustainable development and energy independence.

The construction of a pilot facility in the Žigljen port has already started

The preparations for the project included an analysis of suitable locations, including the ports of Novalja, Žigljen, and Tovarnele. As the first concrete step, the local authorities initiated the construction of a pilot plant in the port of Žigljen.

The facility would use innovative domestic technology for the generation of electricity from sea waves, the announcement reads. It would be used to power water electrolysis for the production of green hydrogen.

The facility is expected to become fully operational by 2027.

The ZEC H2 project would make Novalja an energy independent, emission-free town by 2030. The project’s main goals are to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and encourage the use of renewables.

The construction of the pilot plant is financed through an EU program

The green hydrogen and excess energy would be used to power electric chargers, public transport and utility vehicles, public lighting, and city buildings.

The construction of the pilot plant is financed through the European Union’s Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument while substantial grants were secured from EU funds.

The ZEC H2 project confirms Novalja’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and the development of innovations in the green energy sector, the town’s leadership said.

According to data from August last year, there were 32 green hydrogen projects in Croatia. One of them was for the production of hydrogen using sewage sludge.

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May 6, 2025
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Croatia discusses installation of small modular reactors with US

Croatian and United States officials have discussed the possibilities for energy cooperation to diversify the energy supply in Central and Southeastern Europe. Croatia has expressed particular interest in joint work in the nuclear energy sector.

On the sidelines of the 10th summit meeting of the Three Seas Initiative, held in Warsaw, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar attended the discussion as well and separately sat with a delegation from the Nuclear Energy Institute, based in Washington.

Of note, at the same event, Wright invited Central European countries to abandon the European Union’s energy and climate policy and join his country on “team energy freedom.”

Talks between the two delegations covered various topics, including the expansion of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the island of Krk, development of gas infrastructure toward Hungary and Slovenia, and strengthening the security of energy supply in Central and Southeastern Europe.

The two sides have discussed the enhancement of energy independence for Croatia and Southeastern Europe

According to Croatia’s Ministry of Economy, representatives of the two countries exchanged views on further opportunities for US involvement in projects focused on diversifying energy sources and strengthening the region’s energy resilience.

Croatian officials highlighted the importance of ongoing cooperation with the US, particularly regarding the diversification of energy supply and the enhancement of energy independence for Croatia and Southeastern Europe, the ministry underlined.

Maria Korsnick and Ante Šušnjar (photo: Government of Croatia)

Minister Šušnjar and Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, discussed potential cooperation in the development of nuclear energy, particularly the application of small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

Šušnjar: SMRs is an alternative to existing fossil fuel sources

Šušnjar noted that nuclear energy is increasingly vital for achieving decarbonization and ensuring a stable electricity supply. Croatia has established a workgroup to analyze the potential use of nuclear energy including SMRs as an alternative to existing fossil fuel sources, he added.

“We are interested in partnering with companies that offer advanced, safe, and cost-effective solutions. The Nuclear Energy Institute is a key partner in that process,” Šušnjar said.

Croatia has been expressing interest for the past several years in the Krško 2 nuclear power project in neighbouring Slovenia.

However, Minister Šušnjar recently said his country would focus on developing its own nuclear power capabilities including SMRs.

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May 6, 2025
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Republic of Srpska awards concession for Trebinje 3 solar project

The Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina, has awarded a concession to power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske for the proposed Trebinje 3 solar power plant.

The Trebinje 3 photovoltaic plant would have an installed capacity of 53.63 MW and an estimated annual production of 85.5 GWh.

According to the ministry, construction is expected to be completed within the next four years. The concession has been granted for 50 years and the total investment value is BAM 84.2 million (EUR 43.1 million), the ministry said.

Before finalizing the concession contract, the concessionaire, state-owned Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), delivered a one-off payment to the budget of the Republic of Srpska of BAM 842,049 (EUR 430,992).

Almost the entire amount of the concession fee will be allocated to the budget of the City of Trebinje

After the facility becomes operational, the concessionaire will be obligated to pay a fee of BAM 0.0055 (EUR 0.0028) per kWh of generated electricity to the budget of the Republic of Srpska. A 95% share is allocated for the budget of the city.

The concession agreement for the construction and operation of the Trebinje 3 solar power plant was signed by the Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska Petar Đokić, who will be among the speakers at Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025), and ERS CEO Luka Petrović.

ERS already has two concessions for solar power projects

It is the third concession that the company received for solar power plants from the government. The first, for Trebinje 1, with a capacity of 73 MW, was awarded in 2020..It was followed by Trebinje 2, for 53 MW, awarded in 2022. Neither of the two PV plants has been constructed yet.

In March 2022, ERS announced Lugos Renewables was acquiring 70% ownership of the Trebinje 1 project, with ERS retaining control of the remaining 30%.

In February of this year, the Government of the Republic of Srpska approved concessions for two solar power projects. Their total capacity would be 110 MW.

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