Renewables

Norway’s Statkraft seeks to build floating solar power plant in Albania

Photo: Facebook.com/Statkraft

Published

December 20, 2018

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

December 20, 2018

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

Norway’s state-owned Statkraft, the world’s largest hydropower company and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, has filed a request to build a floating solar power plant in Albania, according to reports citing Albania’s energy ministry.

Statkraft, which produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power, and supplies district heating, has been operating its first hydropower plant (HPP) in Albania, the 73 MW Banja with an average annual production of 254 GWh, since 2007, according to the Norwegian company’s website.

It is on HPP Banja’s reservoir that Statkraft now intends to build a floating solar power plant. Statkraft operates HPP Banja on the Devoll river under a concession deal that also involves the construction of the 172 MW HPP Moglice, which is close to completion.

1st application to build floating solar power plant was filed by state-run KESH

Albania’s state-owned power utility KESH has also submitted a request to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy to build a floating solar power plant, with a capacity of 12.9 MW, on the Vau i Dejes reservoir, according to earlier reports.

KESH’s project proposal was filed in line with regulations on power generation facilities that are not subject to concession. The electricity that would be produced by the floating photovoltaic (PV) power plant would be sold on the free market.

According to KESH, the project aims at saving land surface and at the same time maximizing the exploitation of solar power. Moreover, the presence of the plant will have an impact on the lake ecosystem as it will prevent algae growth and improve the water quality, according to KESH.

The floating photovoltaic facility, which would be Albania’s first, would span 118,000 square meters, according to earlier reports.

KESH plans to build the floating solar power plant as part of efforts to diversify its energy mix, which is almost entirely dependent on hydropower plants. The Vau i Dejes reservoir is part of HPP Vau i Dejes, one of three HPPs in the Drin River Cascade.

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

North Macedonia draft law envisages renewable energy auctions for CfDs

North Macedonia’s draft law envisages renewable energy auctions for CfDs

14 August 2025 - North Macedonia's draft Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources covers auctions, CfDs, prosumers and renewable energy communities

serbia russia nuclear energy Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko dubravka djedovic

Đedović Handanović discusses Serbia’s nuclear power plan with Russian ambassador

14 August 2025 - Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko

Floating solar farm ready to be merged with North Sea offshore wind park

Floating solar farm ready to be merged with North Sea offshore wind park

14 August 2025 - Oceans of Energy has assembled its floating PV plant Nymphaea Aurora in three days, to integrate it into a giant offshore wind park

Romania completes second round renewable energy auctions third wind quota unallocated

Romania completes second round of renewable energy auctions – third of wind quota unallocated

13 August 2025 - Romania completed its second round of renewable energy auctions. More than one third of the wind power quota wasn't allocated and prices rose.