IRENA: Renewables increasingly cheaper than coal competitors on cost
IRENA found 56% of renewable capacity added last year achieved lower electricity costs than new coal power plants. Furthermore, by the end of 2021 it would be cheaper to build new photovoltaic facilities than to keep running active coal power plants of as much as 1.2 TW, more than half of the world total. New […]
Italy enables homeowners to install PV systems for free
The Italian government has raised the so-called eco-bonus for photovoltaic (PV) installations and storage systems from 50% to 110%, effectively enabling homeowners to install PV systems at no cost. The higher subsidies are part of measures to bolster the country’s economy amid the COVID-19 crisis. Under the new provisions, the eco-bonus will be applied to […]
Montenegro expands PV plant Briska gora to 262 MW in spatial plan
The government in Podgorica has outlined the changes to the spatial and urban development plan for the municipality of Ulcinj to expand the land for Briska gora PV plant, as agreed with the consortium developing the project. The facility’s capacity will reach 262 MW compared to initial plan for a 250 MW solar power plant. […]
Albania secures lowest solar power price in Balkans in Karavasta auction
At the country’s second auction for utility-scale photovoltaics, Voltalia offered to sell electricity for just EUR 24.89 per MWh, a regional record. Albania said it would agree to the fixed price for half of the 140 MW solar power plant in Karavasta for 15 years, while the contract is for 30 years. Prime Minister Edi […]
Hidroelectrica plans to install first offshore wind park in Black Sea
Romania’s biggest power producer laid out an ambitious long-term plan to its shareholders, leaning to a large extent on funds it expects from the European Green Deal. Hidroelectrica proposed to develop capacities in hydropower, biomass, photovoltaics, chargers for electric vehicles, hydrogen and wind turbines including an offshore wind park in the Black Sea of as […]
Turkey to schedule 1 GW solar tender for third quarter
Turkey plans to complete the tendering procedure for 1 GW in solar power in the next quarter, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez said during the online Turkey Energy Summit. The tendering procedure was first planned for January 2019, but it was later pushed back to April of this year, and then […]
Corporate power purchase agreements – time to get ready!
Authors: Louise Dalton, Partner, CMS London; Ivan Gazdić, Partner, CMS Belgrade; Igor Đorđević, Attorney-at-Law, CMS Belgrade; Charlotte Rihoy, Trainee Solicitor, CMS London To date, renewable energy projects in the Balkans have been supported by traditional feed-in tariff subsidy schemes (FiT). Certain Balkan countries (e.g. North Macedonia and Bulgaria) have begun to implement alternative schemes, such as […]
Republic of Srpska awards Bileća solar power plant concession to EFT
Vuk Hamović’s firm will sign the contract for a 60 MW photovoltaic system as bidding finished. The formal process for the Bileća solar power plant began in January following a request by EFT. The Government of the Republic of Srpska has decided to sign a contract with EFT International Investments Holding Ltd. for the construction […]