Regulatory framework, electricity price highlighted as impediments to greening region’s energy mix

The Western Balkans, and Serbia in particular, should continue implementing regulations to help green the energy mix and fight climate change, according to panelists at the 11th Balkan Energy Finance Forum. They also raised the issues of how the low regulated electricity price is affecting investments in the energy sector overall and how third countries […]

Renewables November 30, 2018

Ministry drafts law to prohibit small hydropower plant construction in protected areas

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has drafted a law banning the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) in protected areas, State Secretary Ivan Karić has told Reuters, adding that the draft will be sent to the government and parliament in early 2019. “If this extreme non-ecological trend of diverting streams into pipelines continues, we would […]

Energy Community Ministerial Council sets direction for adopting 2030 energy and climate targets

Energy Community Ministerial Council, held today in Skopje, took some key decisions, including the adoption of  General Policy Guidelines on 2030 energy and climate targets, the selection of 21 infrastructure projects of regional significance, and re-opening of the negotiations on amendments to the Treaty establishing the Energy Community. The meeting, which brought together ministers of […]

2nd South-East Europe Parliamentary Forum on Energy Efficiency and Climate held in Skopje

After the success of the 1st South-East Europe Parliamentary Forum on Energy Efficiency (EE) and Climate, held in December 2017 in the Energy Community in Vienna, the GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Energy Efficiency (ORF-EE) organized another on 27 November, 2018 in Skopje, Macedonia. The event hosted representatives of parliaments and civil […]

Energy Community, EBRD issue joint Policy Guidelines for implementing Energy Efficiency Obligation schemes

The Energy Community (EnC) Secretariat and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have issued joint Policy Guidelines to help countries in the region design and implement an Energy Efficiency Obligation (EEO) scheme in line with Article 7 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. According to the Secretariat’s press release, Article 7 requires EU […]

Solvis, IRB in R&D project to develop third-generation PV cells, produce solar roof tiles, facade panels

Croatian solar photovoltaic (PV) cell producer Solvis and the country’s internationally competitive Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) will work on the development of innovative PV cells and modules in 2019 under a joint project worth nearly EUR 2 million, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), according to a news release on IRB’s website. Under […]

Renewables November 28, 2018

Resalta enters Macedonian market with energy audit of pharmaceutical company Alkaloid

Resalta, a leading energy service company (ESCO) in South-East Europe (SEE), has officially launched operations in Macedonia with its first project in the country: a comprehensive energy audit of leading pharmaceutical company Alkaloid AD Skopje, according to a press release from the ESCO. Resalta d.o.o.e.l., a subsidiary of Slovenia-based Resalta, was registered in September 2018, […]