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Source: GOV SI
The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved two flagship projects under the EU’s Just Transition Fund. The Stara Elektrarna – Centre of the Future will receive €28.1 million, while the Velenje Technology Park – TecHub has been granted €14.1 million. Both initiatives are expected to play a central role in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in a region historically dependent on coal mining.
Several complementary projects are already underway, including:
In addition, €45 million in EU funding has been allocated to the construction of the 3rd development axis between Velenje and Slovenj Gradec, strengthening infrastructure links vital for regional competitiveness.
Peter Dermol, Mayor of Velenje, welcomed the funding, emphasising both the opportunities and challenges ahead.
The signing of these contracts means that the restructuring process has already begun, even though the Development Restructuring Act has not yet been adopted. The path to these projects was extremely demanding. The conditions were not easy, but we are grateful that the financier set a high bar for us. We are fully aware that we must deliver results within the stipulated deadlines.
Peter Dermol, Mayor of Velenje
The investments mark the beginning of a historic transition for the SASA region, which is moving from its legacy of coal and heavy industry towards a future centred on clean energy, research, and innovation.
The European Union’s renewable energy transition reached a historic milestone in 2025, driven by an unprecedented expansion of solar power and a massive spike in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. According to the latest quarterly market reports, the bloc is successfully stabilizing its energy markets while rapidly accelerating its green infrastructure.
A joint geothermal initiative in Vienna’s Aspern district has surpassed initial performance projections, paving the way for a massive expansion of sustainable district heating in the Austrian capital. Spearheaded by local utility Wien Energie and energy firm OMV, recent test drilling indicates the city's underground resources are hotter and more abundant than previously thought.
French energy group ENGIE has announced the development of its first hybrid energy project in Europe, co-locating wind energy generation with battery energy storage systems (BESS). The facility is being built in Băleni, Galați County, located in southeastern Romania.
The storage asset is being installed directly within ENGIE’s operational 50 MW Băleni wind farm, which has been active since 2013. The grid-connected battery will feature a power capacity of 5 MW and a storage capacity of 10 MWh, allowing it to deliver maximum electricity output to the grid for a continuous two-hour window. The unit is scheduled to be fully commissioned by the end of this year.