National Bank of Greece raises EUR 500 million via green energy bonds
NBG sold green energy bonds worth EUR 500 million with the obligation to invest the funds in hydropower, wind parks and photovoltaic projects in Greece. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development revealed it invested EUR 50 million in a six-year senior preferred green debt issuance by the National Bank of Greece (NBG). The Greek […]
EPS gets approval in Serbia for Gornja Drina hydropower project in BiH
Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) managed to surpass another obstacle in its plan to construct a hydropower cascade on the upper course of the Drina river in BiH together with domestic utility ERS. The company obtained clearance from Serbia’s competition watchdog amid an environmentalists’ outcry regarding possible damage to nature and habitats. The Commission for Protection of […]
Kosovo* parliamentarians reviewing small hydropower permits
A group of lawmakers in Prishtina held the first meeting within their three-month deadline for a probe into the controversy regarding the issuance of licenses and the oversight of small hydropower plants in Kosovo*. A parliamentary inquiry commission in the Assembly of Kosovo* has been established to review the process of issuing licenses and supervising […]
Protest announced against small hydropower plants in North Macedonia
Environmentalist groups and nature enthusiasts in North Macedonia are joining villagers in the Shar mountain range this weekend at a protest to stop works on a small hydropower plant in Leshnica. Eleven such facilities are already operational in the area and 15 more are planned. The people of the Balkans are sharing the same fight […]
Leonardo DiCaprio backs campaign to protect Bosnian rivers
Conservationist groups from the region and the world urged the Federation of BiH to pass a law that would forbid the construction of new small hydropower plants, and Leonardo DiCaprio backed the initiative to protect the country’s rivers. They called for the implementation of an initiative that the entity’s parliament adopted three months ago. If […]
Bulgaria to add 2.65 GW of renewables capacity by 2030
In its draft Sustainable Energy Development Strategy until 2030 with a 2050 horizon, Bulgaria doesn’t envisage the shutdown of its coal power plants. The government said efforts would be made in green energy, innovation, energy efficiency, nuclear sources and gas to ensure energy security. Within the decarbonization push, Bulgaria revealed a goal of installing 2.65 […]
Energy transition in BiH: burden or chance for development
Experts Damir Miljević, Nikola Rajaković and Igor Kalaba called for reform and the beginning of the energy transition away from coal in BiH. The new analysis indicates the process would be the most cost effective if started right away. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) must begin the energy transition process in earnest as soon as possible […]
Outrage in Skopje over destruction of river for small hydropower plant
Locals are complaining about damage to the landscape amid works on the first of the three planned small hydroelectric units in Skopje territory. Eko-svest demands the construction on the Markova reka to be halted and all such projects to be suspended until a review of concessions is conducted. Eko-svest condemned the destruction of the upper […]