Velimir Gavrilović, Fortis Energy: We are developing huge portfolio in SEE

Fortis Energy is working on renewable energy projects of 2 GW altogether in Southeast Europe. One half of the planned capacity is for solar and wind power plants in Serbia, Chief Operational Officer Velimir Gavrilović said at Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF 2025).

Turkey-based Fortis Energy’s projects Noćaj 1 and Noćaj 2 in Serbia for solar power plants with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is nearing a ready-to-build status. They are part of its 2 GW under development in the region. “We are developing a huge portfolio of different renewable energy sources in whole Southeast Europe. This is predominantly in Serbia,” COO Velimir Gavrilović said at Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF 2025).

He addded that one half is for photovoltaic plants and the other for wind parks in the country. Gavrilović revealed that the company is investing in 600 MW in Albania, mainly photovoltaics, together with endeavors in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.

Fortis Energy is exploring new projects in Spain and Italy as well. It also operates biogas power plants in Turkey and Serbia, Gavrilović noted.

CBAM’s impact still unclear

Among the challenges for investors in the sector, he pointed to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the European Union’s CO2 tax. Gavrilović stressed that the exact effect on electricity producers remains to be seen, as well as for the consumers of electricity in industrial production in the region.

Fortis Energy’s COO recalled that investors in renewables in Serbia are obligated to secure energy storage to get grid connection and said there are still some bylaws missing to complete the legal framework.

Grid connection contract signed for 110 MW solar power plant with batteries in Serbia

Earlier this month, the company signed a grid connection contract for its Erdevik solar park in Šid, Serbia, of 110 MW in peak capacity. It is planned to include a BESS facility of 31.2 MWh.

The Turkish developer and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) operator has three wind power projects in the pipeline in the country: Vranje, Gornjak and Juhor.

Fortis Energy has a 79.9 MW solar power plant in operation in Oslomej in North Macedonia, commissioned last year. The connection capacity is 68.7 MW. In February, the company said it contracted a lithium ion BESS facility to be added, with 62 MW in operating power and a two-hour duration.