Kosovo* to measure wind potential for auctions, public projects

The Ministry of Economy of Kosovo* will install wind gauges this year at many locations to develop projects that it intends to auction or build capacities in public ownership or within public-private partnerships.

The government never had precise data on wind energy potential, as various potential investors measured it themselves, but they didn’t do it properly either, so Kosovo* is “a little behind” in the aspect, according to Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli. She told lawmakers that the ministry would set up anemometers and wind vanes in many places this year to determine wind speed and direction, Buletini Ekonomik reported.

The next step will be to conduct other preliminary studies, Rizvanolli explained. The ministry will develop them into projects for the first auctions or to install capacities in public ownership or within public-private partnerships, she revealed.

Data for foreign investors

The aim is to present foreign investors with exact information on wind potential, in her words. It will contribute the success rate and process transparency, for which the ministry was praised during the first auction, Rizvanolli stressed.

Kosovo* hosts two wind power plants. Bajgora (also known as Selac) has 102.6 MW in connection capacity. The Kitka facility, of 36 MW is planned for expansion.

There is an estimated 1 GW in overall potential in the locations of Çiçavica (also Čičavica, Çiçavica and Qyqavica), Zatriq (Zatrić), Budakovo (Budakova) and Kozhica (Kožica), the article adds.

Air Energy 2 intends to install two wind power plants of 34.8 MW each, in combination with a solar power plant. StubllaEnergy is also working on a hybrid power plant of 170 MW, of which 132 MW would be in wind turbines. Most projects have long been dormant.

Next up is 150 MW wind power auction

One month ago the Ministry of Economy published the names of companies that applied to qualify for Kosovo’s pilot renewable energy auction. They are competing for a contract for difference of CfD for a solar power project of 100 MW in indicated connection capacity.

The government plans auctions for a combined 950 MW in wind and solar power and battery storage in the next two years. First up would be a public call for 150 MW in wind power.