Renewables

North Macedonia puts its biggest solar power plant into operation

North Macedonia Kovačevski biggest solar power plant into operation

Photo: Government of North Macedonia

Published

October 11, 2022

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

October 11, 2022

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

Slovenia-based GEN-I connected its 17 MW solar power plant southeast of Skopje to the grid four months before the deadline. It is the largest photovoltaic facility in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans.

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski said North Macedonia has proven that it can implement projects that bring stability and security to electricity supply and improve the standard of living. Speaking at the opening ceremony for a 17 MW solar power plant, he said the government continues to tackle the energy crisis but that it is also setting the course for future energy production and the green industry and economy.

The new photovoltaic system, the largest in the country, is located southeast of the capital Skopje. GEN-I Skopje, a subsidiary of Slovenia-based GEN-I, won the right to build it in 2019, at a tender for a 50-year lease of state-owned land.

Construction started early last year. The solar power plant was connected to the grid four months before the deadline. The facility with an estimated annual output of 25 GWh spans 30 hectares in Azambegovo in the municipality of Sveti Nikole.

Government expects 12 MW more in solar power to come online by year-end

Kovačevski said he expects the remaining 130 MW on state-owned and private land, awarded through public calls, to come online within two years. Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi revealed there are photovoltaic facilities with a combined 65.7 MW in capacity currently connected to the grid. By the end of the year, 12 MW more is scheduled to be added, he said.

Government-controlled power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija is preparing to install two solar power plants of 50 MW each at its coal complex REK Oslomej. It is a public-private partnership with Fortis and Solarpro. The arrays will be in former open-cast mines.

Kovačevski announced that laws on strategic investments for wpd and Akuo Energy would be submitted to parliament within 40 days

There are projects being finalized for the other coal mine and thermal power plant complex, REK Bitola, according to Kovačevski. The combined capacity is 200 MW to 300 MW, the prime minister underscored.

He said that within 40 days several laws on strategic investments, including for projects being prepared by wpd and Akuo Energy, would be submitted to parliament. Kovačevski pointed out that Mytilineos from Greece intends to build a gas-fired cogeneration plant in Skopje. The government will decide soon whether to declare it a strategic investment, he asserted.

Bogoslovec wind park to be finished within next two quarters

As for wind power, the prime minister expressed confidence that Bogoslovec would “start operating within the next two quarters.” Turbines are starting to arrive at the location, which is just a few kilometers from Azambegovo. It is the first private wind farm project in the country.

Of note, firms controlled by former Deputy Prime Minister Kocho Angjushev have just built an 8 MW solar power plant. Until now, the largest photovoltaic unit was in REK Oslomej – 10 MW on an abandoned coal pit.

The family of Zoran Zaev, Kovačevski’s predecessor and party colleague, has recently founded its second solar plant firm.

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 pledge boost energy storage six times 1.5 TW

Global pledge signed to boost energy storage six times to 1.5 TW

11 December 2024 - The COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge calls for increasing capability by six times to 1.5 TW by 2030

Bulgaria halt Russian gas transit US sanctions

Bulgaria preparing to halt Russian gas transit, citing US sanctions

11 December 2024 - Bulgaria warned it would halt the transit of Russian gas to Serbia and beyond if Gazprom doesn't find another way to pay for it

PV plant Maglizh 160 MW in Bulgaria test phase

PV plant Maglizh of 160 MW in Bulgaria to enter test phase

10 December 2024 - The Maglizh photovoltaic facility of 160 MW in peak capacity is nearing the test phase, after overcoming complex issues in development

Greece exports one third of its electricity to neighboring countries

Greece exporting one third of its electricity to neighboring countries

10 December 2024 - Greece has become a net exporter of electricity, providing up to a third of its daily production to neighboring countries