News | AEA-Albania Energy Association

May 28, 2025

by AEA in News

Electrify Europe – to be competitive and sustainable, the EU needs to speed up electrification

Author: Ulrich Adam, director general of Orgalim, EUSEW’s partner organisation As Europe grapples with sluggish economic growth and soaring energy costs, electrification has emerged as the linchpin for reversing industrial decline, accelerating decarbonisation, and restoring global competitiveness. In this opinion piece, Ulrich Adam, Director General of Orgalim, outlines why a bold push for electrification must […]

May 28, 2025

by AEA in News

North Macedonia issues first guarantees of origin for renewables

North Macedonia’s National Electricity Market Operator MEMO has issued the country’s first guarantees of origin (GOs), certificates verifying that electricity is generated from renewable energy sources. The guarantees were awarded to state power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) for electricity produced from hydropower. With this step, North Macedonia joins virtually all other countries in […]

May 27, 2025

by AEA in News

Largest battery storage system in Balkans commissioned in Bulgaria

A BESS facility of 124.1 MW in operating power was inaugurated in Lovech in Bulgaria. Located next to a photovoltaic park within Balkan Industrial Park, it is part of the country’s first closed licensed power distribution system. The Bulgarian city of Lovech, northeast of Sofia, hosts the strongest battery energy storage system (BESS) in the […]

May 27, 2025

by AEA in News

North Macedonia in talks on project to build two hydropower plants

North Macedonia is negotiating a strategic project to build two hydropower plants, Čebren and Galište, in an investment estimated at EUR 1.2 to 1.3 billion, according to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. A tender for building the Čebren pumped storage hydropower plant was annulled by the previous government in early 2024. The country intends to finance […]

May 27, 2025

by AEA in News

Greece launches Attica-Crete subsea power interconnector

The Attica-Crete subsea power interconnector has been put into trial operation, marking a milestone for Greece’s transmission system. The country now has a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection, and its largest island is fully integrated into the national electricity system, according to an announcement by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or Admie). The Ariadne […]

May 27, 2025

by AEA in News

Decarbonization of Southeastern European region: both renewables and nuclear are speeding up

Energy transition in Southeastern Europe is accelerating, and the progress depends on individual countries’ strategies and legal frameworks. At the Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF 2025), representatives of state-owned power utilities and private producers discussed the different approaches to decarbonization. The domination of investments in renewable energy is unquestionable, but there are also ambitions to develop […]

May 27, 2025

by AEA in News

Clock is ticking for introducing carbon tax in Western Balkans, many ambiguities still remain

From January 1st, 2026, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be effective in the Western Balkans. While the countries are still deciding on the carbon pricing model, the energy intensive industry is advocating for introducing taxation to protect the domestic market from the flood of goods that will not be competitive on the EU market. […]

May 26, 2025

by AEA in News

Battery storage market in SEE emerging, Western Balkans lagging behind with positive prospects

The deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across Southeast Europe is progressing at an uneven pace. State subsidies and financing mechanisms have enabled the rapid implementation of BESS solutions in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, while markets in the Western Balkans are lagging behind. However, the outlook remains positive, as experiences from neighboring markets and […]

May 26, 2025

by AEA in News

BEF 2025: Corporates’ education, product diversification crucial to speed-up PPA uptake

Capacity building and education for corporates, together with product diversification and an upgrade of the regulatory framework, could clear the obstacles for power purchase agreements in the Western Balkans, which are lagging behind the other countries in Southeast Europe. In addition to their other benefits, such contracts could contribute to securing baseload energy from hybrid […]

May 26, 2025

by AEA in News

BEF 2025: Technologies for energy transition are here, getting cheaper every day

Technologies for the energy transition already exist, and their use is increasing thanks to falling costs. Investors and bankers claim they are ready to invest and that money isn’t an issue. The missing part are upgraded transmission grids, along with policies and regulations to integrate everything into a suitable environment, according to investors and lenders […]