Renewables

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

Albania KESH contractor 13 MW floating PV plant

Photo: KESH / LinkedIn

Published

October 29, 2024

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

October 29, 2024

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

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.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

serbia naled CBAM analysis jobs

NALED urges action to protect jobs at energy-intensive industries threatened by CBAM

13 June 2025 - The National Alliance for Local Economic Development has called on the state to introduce measures to protect energy-intensive industries

serbia suncarlito beta solar token subotica solar power plant

SunCarlito Beta issues tokens to raise funds for 2.2 MW solar power plant in Serbia

13 June 2025 - Investors can buy 3,402 tokens called Solar Token ST_1, priced at EUR 500 each. The deadline to purchase the tokens is July 9

nuclear power plant reactor edf france

French power prices jump as EDF looks into possible nuclear reactor defect

12 June 2025 - France’s state-owned power utility EDF is investigating apparent corrosion cracks found at the Civaux 2 nuclear reactor.

nuclear power plant world bank

World Bank to back nuclear projects again amid rising electricity needs

12 June 2025 - The World Bank would support projects to extend the life of existing nuclear power plants and speed up the rollout of small modular reactors.