Photo: Belinda Balluku, Dimitar Enchev (Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy)
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku promoted CWP Europe’s wind power project Tropoja of 600 MW. The company’s CEO Dimitar Enchev highlighted the importance of local electricity production for a modern economy, including AI and data centers, and for energy independence. Albania still doesn’t host a single operational wind turbine.
CWP Europe will hopefully connect its wind park Tropoja to the grid within 12 months, excluding the period of harsh winter, according to Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama. Speaking at the project’s presentation, he said the investment is a step toward the country’s ambition of becoming self-reliant in energy production.
“For a long time, we had complete dependence on water and rainfall. At the same time, we inherited a system with so many weaknesses that, when rainfall was lacking, we had to go to international markets and purchase large quantities at inflated prices. Meanwhile, when rainfall came in abundance, we often saw much of this potential value, water, go to waste and not only fail to be converted into energy, but at times also cause extraordinary damage,” Rama stated.
Namely, hydropower plants accounted for almost 100% of domestic electricity production until recently. By the end of the decade, the combined share of wind and solar power will reach 30%, Rama underscored.
Preparing final stages of Tropoja wind power project
CWP Global’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer for Europe Dimitar Enchev highlighted the importance of local electricity production for a modern economy and energy independence, especially with the expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers.
“The last time I was here was about three months ago, when we decided and signed a joint cooperation agreement with the EU, and now, after three months, we receive the permission that allows us to engage in preparing the final stages of our project,” he stated, as quoted by CNA.
CWP Europe has more than 7 GW under development in Southeast Europe
CWP Europe has 900 MW in wind power projects under development in Albania, part of a portfolio of more than 6 GW across Southeast Europe plus more than 1 GW in photovoltaics.
The Tropoja area is in the country’s far north. Albania still doesn’t host a single operational wind turbine.
Support from European Commission
CWP Europe signed a joint declaration in October with the European Commission, the Albanian Investment Development Agency and the Montenegrin Investment Agency, in support of the Tropoja project and the Montechevo solar farm with battery storage in Montenegro, respectively.
In September, the company’s subsidiary Eralb Invest submitted its wind power project to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, for 603.9 MW. It is not subject to concession and doesn’t benefit from state support measures.
In 2023, the firm sent a proposal to the Strategic Investment Committee (SIC or KIS) in which the project was for a wind and solar park of 826 MW in total capacity. It is an interministerial panel chaired by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The entire designated area in Tropoja municipality reportedly spanned 385 hectares, encompassing the territories of the villages Viçidol, Berisha, Luzha and Pac, and the investment was valued at EUR 1.2 billion.
In October 2023, CWP and GE Vernova’s Onshore Wind business agreed to develop a large-scale hybrid wind and solar project in Albania. They estimated the investment at more than EUR 1 billion.
Fântânele-Cogealac-Gradina, the biggest onshore wind park in Southeastern Europe and, until recently, in entire Europe, has 600 MW in capacity. It is located in Romania. CWP developed the project and sold it in 2008.
Balluku: Diversification is strategic necessity
Albania is moving to a modern, balanced energy model, where diversification of sources is no longer a solution, but a strategic necessity, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku.
“The Tropoja wind farm is not just an energy investment. It is a symbol of the transformation that Albania is experiencing, a transformation towards a sustainable, stronger and more innovation-friendly economy. This project proves that the Albanian energy sector is entering a new phase, where private investment and foreign direct investment are becoming engines of growth, thanks to serious partnerships and long-term visions,” she stated.
Wind and solar power projects totaling 1.5 GW are under development in Albania
In recent years, Albania added over 700 MW of photovoltaic capacity, and another 400 MW for self-supply, Balluku revealed. Wind and solar power projects totaling 1.5 GW are under development, she added. Future pumped storage hydropower capacity in the Drin (Drim) cascade and Statkraft’s project in Moglica amount to 1.6 GW, Balluku stressed.
Since 2013, losses in the power distribution network have dropped to 16.9% from more than 45%, while total electricity capacity increased by 1.5 GW, the deputy prime minister added. She said outages have been reduced to an all-time low and that they usually only last a few minutes.
The Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime suspended Balluku in late November amid an investigation, but the Constitutional Court soon reinstated her.
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