Albania’s KESH hires contractor for 13 MW floating PV plant

The Gamma–Sungrow FPV joint venture won the contract for the design, construction and operation of a floating solar power plant in Albania. State-owned power utility KESH secured financing for the project in 2021.

Solar Energy of Albania (SENA), a subsidiary of KESH, said it hired a joint venture of Spain-based Gamma Solution and Sungrow FPV from China for a floating photovoltaic facility of 12.97 MW in peak capacity. The location of the long-awaited project is on the reservoir of the Vau i Dejës hydropower plant.

State-owned KESH founded SENA in March 2021, right after obtaining a loan of up to EUR 9.75 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The firm was specifically tasked with the floating PV investment, but also the development of other endeavors.

At the time, the entire investment was valued at EUR 13.94 million and the project was for 12.9 MW. Of note, at the signing ceremony with Gamma–Sungrow FPV, it said 12.7 MW on the screen.

Contractor to run, maintain floating PV plant for two years

The Spanish-Chinese firm is tasked with the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning the floating plant and operating and maintaining it for two years.

The European Union supported the project via its Western Balkans Investment Framework. According to the latest data, the grant is EUR 2.7 million, but the EBRD loan is just EUR 7.5 million and the investment is worth EUR 12.1 million.

Project aimed at replication throughout Balkans

The project was promoted for its demonstration effect and the aim is to easily replicate it on other reservoirs in Albania and the wider region. The combination with a hydropower plant is also significant. The Vau i Dejës facility already includes a solar power plant on a dam. More renewable energy projects are under consideration in the area.

KESH said an innovative pure-float technology would be deployed in the floating PV plant. The plant’s mooring system will ensure normal operation even with fluctuations in the water level of up to 15 meters as well as maximum wind resistance for the next 50 years, KESH claimed.

The utility expects output to reach 18.8 GWh in the first year, and an average of 17.8 GW over the entire operational period of the floating solar power plant.

Albania already hosts one small facility of the kind. The technology is still rare in the Balkans.