Wind power plant in Krnovo, Montenegro, launched trial electricity production on 5 out of 26 wind turbines installed. Wind park has MW 72 of installed power and it is one of the largest facility of that type in the region.

According to plan, production will be increased gradually, followed by technical tests. If the tests results are positive, all other wind turbines will successively be turned on. The trial period will last 120 days. It is estimated that Krnovo will produce GWh 200 annually, which is sufficient supply for 50,000 households.

Krnovo wind power plant is the first capital investment in the energy sector in decades. The construction, worth about EUR 120 million, began in May last year. The contract for this project was concluded between the Montenegrin government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Its implementation should help Montenegro achieve renewable energy goals which entail 1/3 of total energy consumption to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2020.

The project is realized by the Ivicom company from Austria and Akuo Energy from France, which registered the joint Krnovo Green Energy company. Along with EBRD, the project was financed by the German development bank (KfW) and the French investment company for the promotion of economic cooperation Proparco.

The first wind turbine was delivered to Krnovo on June 1. Its generator is located at a height of 85 metres and weighs 83.5 tones. The wind turbines are set at an altitude of about 1,500 metres, where, as estimated, the average wind speed varies between 5.5 and 6.5 meters per second.

Montenegro concluded the contract on the lease of the public land in August 2010 for a period of 20 years, with a possibility of an extension up to a maximum of five years. For the first 12 years, the price of the electricity generated by the wind farm is guaranteed and it will not be less than EUR 95.99 per MW/h.

The realization of the project was delayed due to unresolved property-legal issues and disputes with landowners who were dissatisfied with the estimated value of their real-estate. Krnovo wind park is expected to contribute to reducing carbon-dioxide emissions.