ALPEX electricity exchange comes online with day-ahead market launch

The Albanian Power Exchange or ALPEX launched regular operations with the establishment of a day-ahead market, in cooperation with the Athens Stock Exchange and the Hellenic Energy Exchange.

The start of the trading and post-trading operational activities within the day-ahead market at the Albanian Power Exchange is a milestone within the country’s integration into the European Union’s electricity market target model, Athex Exchange Group said. Its Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) and the Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEx), operated by EnExGroup, have provided the infrastructure and services for ALPEX.

“Today, we confirm that the road to regional and European integration of our electric markets is closer than ever,” Chief Executive Officer of ALPEX Sokol Dishnica said.

It seemed like ALPEX would never go live

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku stressed it is the crown of a five-year effort. At certain points, it seemed the job would never get done, she acknowledged. Albania and Kosovo* completed the regulatory framework for the joint power exchange last year.

Albania and Kosovo* completed the regulatory framework for the joint power exchange last year

The next step is to create liquidity, Balluku underscored. She vowed that the government would protect consumers from surges in market prices, adding that they seem to have stabilized recently. “But no one knows what will happen in the summer,” Balluku pointed out. She revealed that her ministry has processed applications for a total of 1.7 GW in electricity generation capacity last year.

New power bourse is second in Western Balkans

“We all know how relevant such an event is for a local power market. Especially in our region and in the wider Balkan area, where the energy exchanges aren’t so many, it is of paramount importance that modern and transparent energy markets start to send out the message that Southeastern Europe has a role in shaping the energy transition, and support the geopolitical evolution that Europe is facing,” CEO of EnEx and EnExClear Alexandros Papageorgiou said.

Serbia’s SEEPEX, the only operational power bourse in the Western Balkans until now, has scheduled the introduction of an intraday electricity market for June.

The Montenegrin Power Exchange – MEPX was supposed to come online by the end of 2022 with the introduction of a day-ahead market, but the go-live was pushed back to April 26. North Macedonia is preparing to launch an electricity exchange in May.