Albania to launch auction for 100 MW solar PV park in Spitalles

Albania will launch the third auction for the construction of a solar photovoltaic park, with a planned capacity of 100 MW, local media reported.

It would be the third auction for large solar power plants in the country. In August Albania signed a contract for the 140 MW Karavasta project with Voltalia, which would now be the biggest photovoltaic power plant of its kind in Southeastern Europe. The first auction for the project in the Akerni salt flats has been on hold for almost two years, ever since India Power’s consortium gave the best bid at Albania’s first auction.

The new solar park will be located in the area of Spitalles

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy will open the auction for the construction of a solar park in the area of ​​Spitalles, with installed capacity of 100 MW, minister Belinda Balluku said.

The auction rules will be similar as in the case of Karavasta project

The auction rules will be similar to competition for the Karavasta solar park. The state will pay a privileged price for the production from 50 MW, while the rest will be sold on the market.

The price achieved on auction for Karavasta is the lowest solar power price in Balkans. Voltalia has offered to sell electricity for just EUR 24.89 per MWh while country authorities said it would agree to the fixed price for half of the 140 MW for 15 years, while the contract is for 30 years.

On the first auction, for the Akerni project, India Power’s consortium offered EUR 59.9 per MWh for half of the planned 100 MW. Voltalia also participated in the auction.

Albania and North Macedonia are the only countries in the region to organize auctions for renewables energy projects.