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September 16, 2025
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ELES, Hitachi Energy launch Next Generation Control System project

Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES and Hitachi Energy have signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the implementation of their Next Generation Control System project.

ELES and Hitachi Energy plan to develop advanced digital solutions for transmission grid control centers, according to Slovenia’s TSO.

The Next Generation Control System project is a continuation of their cooperation within the internationally recognized and awarded NEDO project. The project has laid the foundation for collaboration between ELES and Hitachi, representing a key step in the said activities.

The companies will develop three key functionalities of the new generation

Within the project, the two companies intend to work on three core functionalities of the next generation.

An Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is a software solution that connects various applications, enabling them to communicate and exchange data — even if they use different languages, protocols, or formats. In practice, it will be implemented for the system that determines operational limits.

Voltage Var Control is an upgrade to the existing voltage management system, introducing complex functions and advanced control methods.

The Common Information Model enhances the efficiency of network data models exchanged between different systems and organisations, particularly in the context of TSOs.

The project will last two years

The firms plan to implement and finance the two-year project by themselves. ELES would invest in improvements, while Hitachi Energy develops the agreed functions, to verify them together with the Slovenian state-owned company. Hitachi Energy intends to incorporate the new functionalities into its standard energy management system offering (Network Manager).

The agreement was signed by Aleksander Mervar, CEO of ELES, and Lars Wiklander, Business Operations Strategy & Planning Executive at Hitachi Energy. However, he was unable to attend the signing ceremony and conference.

The speakers at the event were Lazar Bizumić, Head of Product Management at Hitachi Energy; Jurij Klančnik, Transmission System Operation Director at ELES, and Janko Kosmač, Process Systems Manager at ELES, who is also the head of the technical part of the joint project.

Mervar: An important step in the digital transformation of the Slovenian electricity sector

Janko Kosmač, Aleksander Mervar and Lazar Bizumić (photo: ELES)

Aleksander Mervar highlighted the agreement as a significant step in the digital transformation of Slovenia’s electricity sector. At the same time, in his words, it reinforces the role of ELES and Slovenia as an innovative environment for developing advanced energy solutions.

“New digital solutions will enable better integration of various systems, smarter voltage management in the grid, and more efficient and transparent data exchange. This is a technologically advanced project that will significantly contribute to the safer, more efficient, and sustainable operation of the Slovenian electricity system. It is an important step in Slovenia’s green transition,” Mervar added.

Wiklander: The grid management software and systems ecosystem of the future must be built on a flexible, modular architecture

The grid management software and systems ecosystem of the future must be built on flexible, modular architecture to give TSOs and utilities the scale they need to manage a changing and dynamic grid, the flexibility to integrate proprietary and third-party applications, and the control and visibility necessary to manage and deliver a reliable, resilient power supply, Lars Wiklander asserted.

“This collaboration with ELES is an important proof point in our strategy to deliver the leading grid management ecosystem with Network Manager,” he pointed out.

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September 16, 2025
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Zen Energy Group kicks off construction of hybrid PV-BESS project in North Macedonia

Luxembourg-based Zen Energy Group has started the installation of a hybrid energy project in North Macedonia, combining a solar power plant and a battery energy storage system.

A solar power plant with a battery energy storage system (BESS) could become the country’s second hybrid power plant, with Fortis Energy installing energy storage near Oslomej solar park.

Zen Energy Group kicked off the construction of a landmark solar plus storage project in North Macedonia, Yossi Edelstein, Chief Executive Officer of Zen Energy Group, wrote on LinkedIn.

From concept to construction, Zen Energy Group is making the future of energy a reality in the country, he added.

“We are proud to share that our 82 MW utility-scale solar project with 50 MWh BESS in North Macedonia has officially entered the construction phase,” Edelstein stated.

The PV plant will use LONGi bifacial solar panels

The company’s team kicked off earthworks, development of access roada and cut-and-fill activities. The project is scheduled to start delivering green electricity to the national grid by late April 2026 and to achieve full commercial operation date in August 2026, according to Edelstein.

The project marks another significant step toward advancing clean energy generation in the region, he added.

According to the firm’s website, the photovoltaic plant will be located near Negotino. It will use LONGi bifacial solar panels for the expected annual production of 124,198 MWh.

The financing was secured from NLB bank, the website reads.

The developer revealed that it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 10 years in total, with a six-year fixed price period.

Seven projects in the pipeline

Works near Negotino (photo: Zen Energy Group/LinkedIn)

Zen Energy Group is developing seven energy investments – for three solar parks, two wind farms, a standalone BESS, and a commercial and industrial (C&I) portfolio in the UK.

Wind farms Unirea (102 MW) and Traian (78 MW) are located in Romania, while two PV facilities in North Macedonia would have a total capacity of 137 MW. The Negotino endeavor is for 82 MW and the Armatus investment envisages 55 MW.

Solar project Hajdučica of 125 MW is planned in Serbia. All three PV plants would have BESS. The company is developing the Lacu Sarat standalone battery facility in Romania. If it were in operation now, it would be the largest BESS in Europe.

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September 16, 2025
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Nine times more licenses in Greece than grid capacity

Licensed renewable energy projects in Greece currently stand at about 90 GW. New submissions have been falling sharply.

According to latest data from the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW), a total of more than 110 GW has been licensed across all renewable technologies. Photovoltaics have the lion’s share, with 74.4 GW and wind followed with 25.1 GW.

The regulator has already paused or cancelled 41.8 GW of immature or frozen investments, bringing the active total to 76.9 GW. It includes 29.8 GW in wind farms and 44.8 GW in all types of solar.

There also also investments in renewables plus storage, which amount to about 24 GW at various stages. It means that now 92 GW of renewable electricity projects have permits. There is 15 GW in operation, 15 GW with final connection terms, and another 50 GW waiting in line after completing the first regulatory steps. The rest is still at the initial stage.

RAAEY also said available space in the grid is currently 19 GW and that is expected to reach 30 GW by 2030. Therefore, the ratio between potential projects and what the grid can accommodate is about nine to one.

Applications slow down to a trickle

The congestion has been noticed by investors, who have significantly slowed down their applications in recent years. RAAEY’s head of renewable energy and storage Ioannis Charalampidis recalled that in the licensing cycle of December 2020, projects representing 45.5 GW were submitted. This June they were only 1.2 GW.

It is especially evident in photovoltaics, where applications fell from 36.3 GW to some 50 MW. Wind is also affected, with 65% less capacity in submissions than last year

In addition to the large licensing queue, the sector faces delays and red tape. More than three years have passed since the last auction for subsidized renewables projects, from which about 1 GW has not yet been completed.

The sector raises red tape and competition issues

The issue was raised, at RAAEY’s conference last week, by Hellenic Wind Energy Association’s (HWEA or ELETAEN) General Director Panagiotis Papastamatiou. He said the problem lies with small local governing bodies, which either lack the means or the will to do their job properly. He called for centralization, so that one public body can handle the necessary permits.

POSPIEF: “Genocide” for smaller producers

The Hellenic Photovoltaics Union (POSPIEF), which represents small and medium solar investors, spoke of “genocide” in the sector. Chairman Giannis Panagis accused the government of only supporting large producers, leading to distortion of competition and a wave of smaller projects being abandoned or sold. He added that big players enjoy benefits, such as extensions, while small ones are pushed out of the market.

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September 16, 2025
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Coal plant operator KEK to begin construction of Solar4Kosovo PV plant

Government-controlled Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK) said it is preparing to start building its Solar4Kosovo 1 photovoltaic plant near Prishtina. It informed the local community that agricultural and other activities weren’t allowed anymore on the designated land.

After four years of planning. a former coal ash dump is about to be turned into the biggest solar power plant in Kosovo*. KEK is running the Solar4Kosovo 1 project at a site near its Kosovo A power plant near Prishtina.

The area is in the municipalities of Obiliq (Obilić) and Fushë Kosovë (Kosovo Polje). The government-owned power utility said it is preparing to begin construction works. The project is for 100 MW in connection capacity, translating to 120 MW in peak capacity.

The update mainly affects residents of Dardhishtë and Mërlak in Kryshevc (Kruševac) in Obiliq municipality. Agricultural and other activities aren’t allowed anymore, the company announced. It explained that so far it tolerated the use of its property there by the local community.

KEK obtained EUR 32 million EU grant

The financing for the Solar4Kosovo facility is part of the European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans of EUR 9 billion in grants. The package is aimed at mobilizing a total of EUR 30 billion.

The European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 33 million loan. The EU has approved a EUR 32 million grant via its Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), while Germany’s KfW Development Bank is lending EUR 29 million to KEK. The investment was earlier estimated at EUR 107 million overall.

Annual output estimated at 169 GWh

The proposed solar power plant is expected to produce 169 GWh per year. It would have an underground connection to the existing substation at the Kosovo A thermal power plant.

Notably, Kosovo* is dependent on the obsolete Kosovo A and Kosovo B coal plants for almost all its electricity.

The other part of the Solar4Kosovo project is for a solar thermal facility for the capital city’s district heating system. The site is in the village of Shkabaj (Orlović) in Obiliq municipality. The investment includes a 20 MW network extension.

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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.
September 15, 2025
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ElevenEs mulls building advanced battery cells gigafactory in Poland

Battery technology developer ElevenEs, which has production facilities in Serbia, plans to build a EUR 600 million gigafactory. It revealed that it is considering locations in Poland. The company said InnoEnergy is now one of its main shareholders.

Now backed by a group of international investors including the InnoEnergy fund, ElevenEs announced its next major step. The company registered in Luxembourg said it is “seriously considering Poland” for its planned investment: a EUR 600 million gigafactory for advanced battery cells.

The battery technology developer, which operates production facilities in Serbia, has unveiled its latest product in May. It said the Edge574 blade cell charges up to 80% in 12 minutes. The cycle life translates to a range of at least 500,000 kilometers for electric cars, ElevenEs’ update reads. The company specializes in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology.

“ElevenEs is revolutionizing the battery market, including batteries intended for the electric vehicle industry,” according to its statement on the gigafactory project.

The company aims to begin construction by the end of 2027 and eventually employ 700 engineers.

Company shortlists Kraków, Silesia, Lower Silesia

ElevenEs hasn’t determined the exact location, but it hinted it would be in southern Poland: Kraków, Silesia or Lower Silesia. The country would benefit from technology transfer and the opportunity to further develop it within the domestic economy, it stressed.

ElevenEs’ CEO Nemanja Mikać praised the Polish labor market, supply chain and access to Western European markets

An open labor market, availability of suppliers within the supply chain, presence of many universities, and access to Western European markets are all undeniable advantages of Poland, said founder and Chief Executive Officer of ElevenEs Nemanja Mikać.

“If we add potential public sector involvement to this, we have one of the most attractive places for investment in Europe… From a technology development standpoint, we are a clear leader in Europe. One of the most significant benefits of our technology is its ability to integrate different industrial sectors and build an innovation ecosystem around it,” he stated.

InnoEnergy becomes one of main shareholders of ElevenEs

In introducing the company to Poland and securing additional investors, ElevenEs is being supported by InnoEnergy. Since its founding in 2010, it has invested in over 540 European tech companies. InnoEnergy is now one of the main shareholders of ElevenEs.

“We specialize in connecting different stakeholder groups. Our broad ecosystem includes financial and industrial investors, as well as technology providers, research institutions, and academic centers. The projects we’ve completed demonstrate our experience and ability to execute large, complex investment ventures. We see enormous potential in the ElevenEs project – not only will it help build a strong, competitive Polish economy, but it may also allow Europe to finally establish a significant presence in the global battery value chain. This is one of those projects that could change the rules of the game,” said Mikołaj Budzanowski, CEO of InnoEnergy for Central Europe.

There are investors willing to support the project, but the success of the investment depends critically on the timing and decisiveness of the public sector, he explained. He also highlighted the necessary role of financial institutions.

Serbia in scope for mass production

Of note, Mikać recently said that ElevenEs would “localize and scale” LFP battery production in Serbia over the next seven or eight years. It could become the first country in Europe to launch mass production, he added.

The company wants to participate in creating a robust supply chain in Serbia and Central and Eastern Europe, but also potentially across the continent, he asserted.

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September 15, 2025
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Croatia considering nuclear power plant on its territory – minister

Croatia is considering the possibility of building a nuclear power plant on its territory, according to Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar.

Experts will decide whether it will be small modular reactors (SMRs) or a conventional nuclear power plant, Ante Šušnjar stressed, as quoted by Novi List.

He opined that building a nuclear power plant is a geopolitical and security gain for a country. The minister suggested that Croatia could apply for funds from the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework – the seven-year budget.

Three locations were considered in former Yugoslavia

Šušnjar said multiple sites were being considered for the nuclear plant, but he wouldn’t reveal details. He recalled that when Croatia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which fell apart in the early 1990s, the authorities were examining locations in Ivanić Grad, Erdut, and Vir island. The last of the three was rejected due to tourism.

Croatia and Slovenia jointly operate the Krško nuclear power plant, and cooperation on building a second unit is also possible.

Meetings about cooperation have already taken place with the US

Šušnjar’s claims that everyone in the world and the EU considers nuclear energy a low-carbon source for the transition to renewables. He added it is baseload energy that can power the production of green hydrogen.

In February, the ministry established a working group for analysis and legislation that could enable the introduction of nuclear energy in the country Croatia has already held meetings with United States officials on possible cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

Of note, just a week ago, Germany and France agreed to work together on shaping a common European energy policy that would include nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source.

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