Renewables

EBRD seeks consultant for hydropower sector plan

hydroelectric

Photo: Pixabay

Published

April 1, 2017

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

April 1, 2017

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

As part of activities to bolster Macedonia’s share of power generation from hydro facilities, currently at one fifth, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development placed a call for services of a consulting company. Its responsibility will be to assist the government of the Balkan country in conceptual design for the best hydropower development option from an environmental, social, economic and financial bankability perspective.

The invitation for expressions of interest notes the state’s priorities must be taken into account. As an alternative to the Lukovo pole and Boškov most hydropower projects, the assignment is expected to result in options for upgrades and greenfield investments to meet the 2025–2030 Renewable Energy Action Plan objectives. The selected company will need to identify gaps in information that must be closed for feasibility assessment.

Projects off the table

Two of the hydropower schemes that were planned – Lukovo pole (5 MW plus additional regulated generation from the existing three power plants on Mavrovo cascade of 106 GWh per year) and Boškov most (70 MW), have appeared to be challenging from an environmental point of view, the bank underscored. Due to their location in a national park, they could not meet requirements of international financing institutions, EBRD said and added a regional study due to be published in April will outline rehabilitation and reconstruction potential for existing capacity.

The contract may last 12 months with the possibility of extension, and the assignment is expected to start in May. The cost estimate is EUR 150,000, funded by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. The closing date is April 28.

Assignment

The task starts with kickoff meetings and the preparation of a plan. The consultant will collect and review documents, and perform analysis and point to options in line with the criteria. Field work includes geological investigations, hydrological monitoring, biodiversity surveys and other activities.

Installed hydropower capacity in the country is still below 700 MW. According to data from the Energy Agency of the Republic of Macedonia, slightly more than a quarter of the annual technical potential of 5.52 TWh is bering used. The combined capacity of small hydroelectric facilities was 65.5 MW as of the end of October. The annual production at the 70 units is 233 GWh.

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

Global Wind Day 2025 wind energy opens new job

Global Wind Day 2025: Wind energy creates new jobs

13 June 2025 - Global Wind Day is celebrated every 15 June to raise awareness of the importance of wind as a renewable energy source.

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

Svetlana Cerović: Serbia should consider the role of batteries in next renewables auction

12 June 2025 - Energy storage rules would complete Serbia's regulatory framework for renewables, Svetlana Cerović said at BEF 2025

Gas power plant Brestanica Slovenia photovoltaic unit

Gas power plant Brestanica in Slovenia adds photovoltaic unit

11 June 2025 - A 466 kW solar power plant entered regular operation at Slovenian state-owned gas power plant Termoelektrarna Brestanica (TEB)