Water is and should remain a public good – citizens’ initiatives
The privatization of drinking water sources in Serbia – and the region – has proceeded fairly unnoticed and under the radar. By contrast, the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs), especially in protected areas, has caused a revolt in parts of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania, while the response of Serbian citizens to the […]
Montenegro to start phasing out feed-in tariffs for renewables in 2020
The Government of Montenegro has decided to start gradually reducing feed-in tariffs for renewable energy sources as of January 1, 2020, and announced it will continue to promote the construction of wind farms, solar power plants, and large hydropower plants without guaranteed incentive prices, Montenegrin media reported. The government has adopted regulations that will put […]
Power utility EPCG plans to launch tendering for reconstruction of 5 small HPPs
Montenegro’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) plans to launch tendering in the third quarter of 2019 to select a contractor to produce, deliver, and install equipment, as well as a contractor to produce the main design plan for a project to overhaul and modernize five small hydropower plants (SHPP), EPCG has said in […]
Extending feed-in tariffs risks turning public opinion against renewable energy
Author: Pippa Gallop, Research Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network One of the main factors driving the controversial small hydropower boom in the Western Balkans is the availability of feed-in tariffs, providing investors with a near-certain income for several years. The aim of this policy has been to incentivise the development of renewable energy, however most of […]
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 […]
Serbia pushes back introduction of renewables auctions by a year, extends existing support decree
The Serbian government has extended the decree on incentives for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and high-efficiency heat and power cogeneration until the end of 2019. Experts say that the extension of the decree, which was set to expire on December 31, 2018, is good for all ongoing renewables projects, but that […]
Supreme Court of Cassation blocks construction of small HPP Pakleštica on Mt. Stara Planina
The Supreme Court of Cassation has upheld an appeal lodged by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, annulling a verdict on the matter by the Administrative Court and confirming the ministry’s decision blocking the construction of the Pakleštica small hydropower plant (HPP) on the Visočica river on Mt. Stara Planina, Blic reported. The Ministry of Environmental […]
Fifth International Fair and Conference RENEXPO BiH to be held on October 24-25 in Sarajevo
The fifth RENEXPO BiH, international fair and conference on renewable energy sources (RES), environmental protection, water management and energy efficiency, focused on stepping up investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be held on October 24 and 25 at the convention center of the Hills Hotel in Sarajevo. The RENEXPO BiH will provide modern and efficient […]