Photo: The Prime Minister's Office
Prishtina’s municipal district heating firm Termokos will get 70 MW of heat in a solar project worth EUR 64 million. The facility will be built in nearby Obiliq (Obilić).
Prime Minister Albin Kurti and members of his cabinet met with the representatives of Germany’s KfW Development Bank to discuss the development of the Solar4Kosovo project. The government has just swapped land with the Municipality of Obiliq near Prishtina and gave approval to the capital city’s district heating company Termokos to build the facility on 25 hectares there.
The project worth EUR 64 million will consist of a solar thermal system with collectors on a total of 6.9 hectares and a photovoltaic plant that would be installed by government-owned Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK), according to the announcement. German Ambassador Jörn Rohde revealed his country would provide EUR 60.6 million.
Solar collectors will be used to heat water in an underground reservoir with a capacity of 410,000 cubic meters
Solar4Kosovo will add 70 MW to the Prishtina district heating system. Termokos said the project in the village of Shkabaj (Orlović in Serbian), envisaged to have an annual output of 64 GWh, will enable district heating for 12,000 households. Carbon savings are estimated at 40,000 tons per year.
The solar collectors will be used to heat water in an underground reservoir with a capacity of 410,000 cubic meters. The government said the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development would participate in the funding, but didn’t offer details on loans and grants in the sum.
In December 2020, Germany approved EUR 72.1 million for Kosovo*, of which EUR 34 million in grants. At the time, EUR 24 million was allocated for a loan for Termokos for its solar thermal project.
Kosovo* will apply for European funds for a 100 MW solar power plant project at what is now an ash dump for the Kosova A coal plant
Earlier this week, Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli said the government plans to apply with the European Union’s Western Balkans Investment Framework for funds for KEK to build a 100 MW solar power plant on its land. The EU funds will be combined with financing from KfW and the utility will participate with EUR 5 million, she added.
The facility is intended to be built at what is now an ash dump for the Kosova A coal-fired thermal power plant.
Rizvanolli added the pilot auction for solar power, planned to be held by the end of the year, would be for 50 MW in total capacity.
Kosovo* is also working on a project for batteries with a capacity of 200 MWh for storing surplus electricity and stabilizing the frequency in the transmission system.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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