EU conditions EUR 251 million state aid to coal, power utility CE Oltenia
The European Commission has approved Romania’s plans to grant a EUR 251 million loan to second-biggest power producer Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia) but with strict conditions. The Romanian government has defined a plan to help Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia), coal-based utility trapped in a financial squeeze for years. A public loan warrants approval […]
N. Macedonia is first country in Western Balkans mulling coal phaseout before 2030
North Macedonia’s government has approved the Energy Development Strategy until 2040 which makes it the first country in the Western Balkans to consider a coal phaseout before 2030, Bankwatch said in a press release. Two of the strategy’s scenarios entail a coal exit by 2025, with the third delaying the closure of the Bitola lignite […]
Poland seeks alternatives for last coal thermal power plant project
The European Green Deal and the European Investment Bank’s exit from fossil fuel projects prompted the suspension after 5% of the unit was completed. Two government-controlled enterprises have legal challenges and are burdened with emission expenses. Coal is now less likely to be used in thermal power plant Ostrołęka C if works continue. State-owned electricity […]
EU wind power growth must double to match Green Deal terms: report
Turkey was first in the region last year in new and cumulative capacity, the size of successful tenders and new asset financing. EU saw the share of wind power as primary source jump to 15% in 2019. Data obtained by WindEurope showed the installed wind power capacity in the continent reached 205 GW last year, […]
Clean energy potential of coal regions in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Slovenia: EU report
In more than half of the 42 coal regions in the European Union, the switch to clean energy can create more jobs than currently exist in the coal sector, finds the latest report of the European Commission. The study of its Joint Research Centre (JRC) on clean energy technologies in coal regions includes seven regions […]
North Macedonia to use coal pit Oslomej for 100 MW photovoltaic project
Applications will be received until May 8. The investor is obligated to secure EUR 80 million, the entire estimated cost. North Macedonia’s state-owned utility ESM was declared the public partner for Oslomej, where the photovoltaic power plant will consist of two equal units. Prime minister Oliver Spasovski said solar arrays on the location of a […]
PPC Renewables to apply for rest of two giant solar power units in Greece
Documents are being prepared for the other half of capacity in photovoltaic systems planned at 3 GW in total. The dominant power producer wants to install one of the world’s biggest solar power plants at opencut mines and accompanying coal facilities scheduled to be shut down in the northwest of Greece. Following the 1.5 GW […]
Coal phaseout in Canada – Ex-colleagues helping miners’ job transition
Regional transition centers in coal regions in Canada are being established in order to support the communities during the country’s coal phaseout. The units operated by former coal miners are one of the achievements of the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal and Power Workers and Communities, introduced to find a solution for […]