Montenegro’s EPCG starts trial run of its first wind park – Gvozd

Montenegro’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) launched the trial operation of its first wind power plant, of 54.6 MW. The Gvozd project is worth EUR 82 million. After the completion of the second phase, it would be the biggest wind park in the country.

Ahead of schedule, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore completed its Gvozd wind farm and marked the beginning of the trial operation. Nordex supplied and installed eight turbines totaling 54.6 MW for the first wind power plant of Montenegro’s government-controlled power producer. The project, partly financed with a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is worth 82 million.

The country currently has two wind farms: Krnovo (72 MW) and Možura (46 MW). Several other projects are under development. However, the 118.8 MW Bijela project is the only one with a grid connection agreement.

When the second part of Gvozd is built, the capacity will reach 75.6 MW. The estimated annual output would be above 210 GWh, which is sufficient to supply more than 35,000 households in Montenegro. The facility would be worth EUR 107.6 million overall.

The Gvozd facility also stands on the Krnovo mountain plateau near the city of Nikšić. Annual output is estimated at 150 GWh.

No subsidies required for Gvozd

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić pointed out that citizens wouldn’t pay subsidies for the operation of wind power plant Gvozd. “Investments in energy are priority, because it is our great development opportunity,” he stated. The facility will operate in accordance with market principles, the prime minister added.

“Today we opened a new chapter in the energy sector in Montenegro. Wind power plant Gvozd is a symbol of the development, energy independence and green future of Montenegro,” Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović said. It is the first major state-owned generation asset utilizing renewables after several decades, he noted.

The project confirms that Montenegro has the vision, knowledge and capacity to build a sustainable energy future, Šahmanović stressed. “The side of the future that Montenegro is choosing is clear. Our future is in domestic, clean energy,” the minister asserted.

Number of prosumers tops 10,000

President of EPCG’s Board of Directors Milutin Đukanović said that, including Gvozd, the company built 150 MW in the past four years.

“We already set up 100 MW on more than 10,000 households, so-called prosumers, which have today already reached 230 GWh in production, which is around EUR 30 million. By the end of the year, we will have close to 250 MW, which will generate 400 GWh. EPCG does not wait for the energy transition, but it is strongly executing it,” Đukanović underscored.