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Investors are submitting another wave of applications to Montenegrin authorities for permits for their solar power projects. Among others, France-based Qair requested from the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is necessary for the construction of a 49.9 MW unit in Nikšić. It also received urban planning and technical requirements for another planned investment.
Montenegro’s power transmission system operator CGES has so far signed six connection agreements for solar power projects. Their total peak capacity would amount to 1.64 GW in peak capacity. The investors are M Energy, Sun Horizon, Obnovljivi izvori energije, Solar Power, EE Korita and Agenos Energy
Only one wind power developer, Alcazar Energy, secured a grid link. Its Bijela project is envisaged at 118.8 MW.
As elsewhere in the Balkans and Europe, transmission grid connection infrastructure is one of the main bottlenecks. At the same time, another wave of developers of major solar power projects is coming for their permits. Interestingly, most of the locations are in the municipality of Nikšić, Montenegro’s second-largest city.
Qair takes first step toward environmental permit
Right after signing a cooperation agreement with Montenegro’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), Qair requested from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is necessary for its Rudine facility. It received urban planning and technical conditions a year ago.
The France-based company intends to build a photovoltaic plant in Nikšić of 49.9 MW in peak capacity and a 46.6 MW grid connection.
Most PV projects that progressed toward a connection contract in the past year are for locations around Nikšić
Solar Power, headquartered in Podgorica, already passed both milestones. According to available data, its project in Velestovo in Cetinje is the only one with a building permit as well. The PV plant would have 170 MW in peak capacity and a 150 MW connection.
It should be noted that the largest ground-mounted solar power facility in Montenegro has only 4.4 MW in peak capacity. It is called Čevo Solar. In the rooftop segment, retail chain Voli recently commissioned a system with 2.35 MW in nameplate capacity on its logistics center in Podgorica.
M Energy, the first with both a grid connection contract, has obtained an EIA approval as well. Its Čevo PV project is for 457 MW in nameplate capacity, translating to 385 MW on the transmission grid. The site spans Ubli in Cetinje and Bogetići and Broćanac in Nikšić.
Twin firms eye sites for solar power plants near Montenegro’s second-largest city
The Environmental Protection Agency gave the green light for three more large solar power investments since the beginning of the year. They all earlier received the urban planning and technical conditions from the government.
Green Energy Provider wants to install a 100 MW facility (84 MW in connection terms) unit. The location for the Muževice project is at an eponymous village in Nikšić, with another part in neighboring Krstač. Annual output is estimated at 148 GWh.
Green Energy Investment, a firm with the same owners, is developing a project for 195 MW in peak capacity. It would have 160 MW or 164 MW on the grid. The site is in the cadastral municipality of Šipačno 2 in Nikšić. The documentation shows the facility would generate 263 GWh per year.
Sunrise Europe has a giant project for a PV plant in Šavnik. The Dubrovsko facility would be located near the villages of Dubrovsko and Duži. While the domestic firm aimed for 225 MW in capacity, the EIA study reveals its peak would be up to 211 MW, equivalent to a 195 MW link to the network. Annual production is seen at 284 GWh.
Two major projects around tiny village of Rudine
A firm called Rudine Energy Park filed a request with EPA last month to decide whether its Rudine solar power project requires an EIA study. Yesterday the agency told the investor to produce and submit the document. Rudine is the same village where Qair is developing a project.
Swiss Green Energy Holding controls 50% of ownership over Rudine Energy Park. The future solar power plant is seen with 186.1 MW in peak capacity and 140.3 MW on the grid.
New Age Energy Tri submitted an EIA study in June for a location in Trepča in Nikšić. It obtained the urban planning and technical requirements early this year. According to its estimate, the site can fit 81.6 MW in peak capacity, translating to a 68 MW connection to the transmission network. The solar power facility would generate 102 GW per year.
Three investments for locations in Nikšić pass first hurdle
The government recently issued the urban planning and technical requirements for three other major projects. It is usually the first important step for an investment. All locations are in the Nikšić municipality.
One is from Qair – the potential peak capacity of its PV-Petrovići facility is 50 MW to 70 MW. The site spans 50 hectares.
Montenegrin enterprise A101 intends to build on 37 hectares. The Riječani project is for 74 MW in peak terms, which is surprisingly strong for a lot of the said size. The planned connection capacity is 60 MW.
The third proposal is called Solar 200, for 200 MW in peak capacity on just 119 hectares. The developer is Solar Global, registered in Tivat.
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