North Macedonia receives applications for 4.2 GW of battery projects

North Macedonia has received requests for new wind farms, solar parks and gas power plants of 7,100 MW in total capacity, as well as for standalone batteries and ones that would be co-located with power plants, for 4,172 MW in overall operating power, Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska revealed.

The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources has received an initiative for a 495 MW gas-fired cogeneration plant. Sanja Božinovska said the details are unknown as the submitted documentation is too extensive and is still being analyzed, state news agency MIA reported.

Of note, there were already proposals for gas-fired power plants in the country. The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazancı Holding on projects for such facilities.

Investors intend to install standalone and co-located BESS

Investors submitted initiatives for wind farms of 1,590 MW altogether, as well as for a total of 402 MW and 1,080 MWh in battery energy storage systems (BESS) that would be co-located with wind farms.

So-called initiatives were also received for solar power projects totaling 5,052 MW and accompanying BESS of 1,174 MW in combined capability and 3,018 MWh in capacity. Investors plan to build standalone batteries of an overall 2,596 MW and 3,094 MWh, respectively.

Božinovska said it is great news, though that it’s more important whether the documentation is valid.

She recalled that the recently adopted Law on Energy introduced an annual construction plan for priority energy projects.

October 1 was the deadline for foreign investors to submit their projects

October 1 was the deadline for foreign investors interested in the construction of power plants to submit documentation, Božinovska noted. The ministry received a huge number of documents and it will take time to process them, she stressed.

Batteries became all the rage in the renewable energy sector worldwide. North Macedonia is set for a landmark achievement in its region.

YESS Power plans to commission a 60 MW BESS in the country next month. It would be the first large facility of its kind in the Western Balkans.