Most read in November: DiCaprio, Manu Chao join fight against SHPPs, conference on RES in district energy, Croatia’s first geothermal power plant
The support from Leonardo DiCaprio and Manu Chao for the initiative to ban the construction of small hydropower plants on Vjosa River in Albania and the part of the Balkan mountain range in Serbia was the most popular last month among our readers. Also check out the top three list for the part of our […]
Next decade to be pivotal one for energy sector in SEE – IRENA report
The adoption of an energy mix consistent with the Paris Agreement would create a cumulative addition of USD 485 billion in gross domestic product between 2019 and 2050 in Southeastern Europe (SEE), according to a report produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The document, announced at a regional workshop in Sarajevo in June, […]
Damage from small hydropower is much larger than gains, study finds
The Balkans and Turkey are examples of how quickly free-flowing rivers and river stretches “can be degraded by being turned into impoundments,” World Wide Fund for Nature warned after publishing a study it commissioned together with RiverWatch, Geota and EuroNatur. Environmentalists said hydropower puts “tremendous pressure on Europe’s biodiversity, and for specific projects a disregard […]
Four systemic Greek banks join EUR 650 million sustainable infrastructure program – EIB
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has confirmed in a press release involvement of four systemic Greek banks in a new EUR 650 million green infrastructure investment program. Confirmation of the involvement of the four systemic Greek banks – Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece, and Piraeus Bank – will enable EUR 650 million for […]
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 […]
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 […]
Protests against hydropower planned across Balkans from July 6-16
Environmental activists and civil society organizations (CSOs) from across the Balkans are organizing protests under the slogan “Our rivers – No DAMage!” in July over hydropower projects threatening to leave local populations without homes, arable lands, drinking water, and irrigation supply, or the landscape they have enjoyed for generations. The protests against hydropower plants (HPPs) […]