Energy Vault – energy storage made of concrete blocks and cranes
Concrete blocks and cranes that is all that you need to store electricity. How? Simple. The crane uses excess energy from renewables to lift concrete blocks, and when the power is required, the crane lifts blocks, and the generator produces it. The process is similar to a pumped-storage hydropower plant (HPP), with water substituted with […]
Alliance of local communities declares “state of emergency” on Mt. Stara Planina over SHPPs
The Mt. Stara Planina alliance of local communities has declared a “state of emergency” on that mountain due to violations of the laws and the Constitution of Serbia related to the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs). The public is already aware of the situation in the village of Rakita, where the state has not […]
EPCG shareholders approve investment in Gvozd wind farm project
Shareholders of state power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) have approved an investment into a joint EUR 58 million project with Austria’s Ivicom Holding to build the Gvozd wind farm, RTCG reported following a meeting of EPCG’s shareholders. Ivan Mrvaljević, head of development and engineering at EPCG, said earlier this year that EPCG could launch […]
Končar KET to refurbish HPP Vacha in Bulgaria
A consortium comprising Croatia’s Končar KET and Czech ČKD Blansko Holding has signed a contract to refurbish the 14 MW hydropower plant (HPP) Vacha-1, the accompanying 110 kV switchyard, and other auxiliary systems at the HPP, in cooperation with the Bulgarian state power utility Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK EAD), Končar KET has said in a […]
EUR 8 million in incentives paid to Montenegrin renewables producers in January-July
Producers of electricity from renewable energy sources in Montenegro received a total of EUR 8.08 million in state incentives in the first seven months of 2019, an increase of 3% compared with the same period last year, according to data from the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator (COTEE), RTCG has reported. Krnovo Green Energy’s wind farm […]
EBRD requires proper environmental impact assessment for projects it finances
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) applies tight environmental and social standards to projects it finances and encourages partners to do the same. However, its leverage is limited to the projects it finances. Dariusz Prasek, Director of Operations, Environment and Sustainability Department, EBRD discusses these and other issues pertaining to the EBRD’s new […]
Six power utility EPS employees arrested over mini HPP Dubočica 2
Police have arrested six employees at Serbia’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) in Kraljevo on suspicion of office abuse related to the construction of a power facility for the Dubočica 2 mini hydropower plant (HPP), EPS said in a press release. The suspects arrested on office abuse charges concerning the Dubočica 2 mini hydropower […]
Brave Women of Kruščica win EuroNatur Award for averting construction of 2 SHPPs
The Brave Women of Kruščica have won the EuroNatur Award for 2019 for their 500-day action that prevented the construction of two small hydropower plants (HPPs) in the village in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For more than 500 days and nights, a group of women from the village of Kruščica blocked a bridge crossing the river […]