Renewables to power electric cars, lighting on Smart Road Tirana

Within a pilot project in Tirana, small solar and wind power devices will be used to supply the energy for public lighting and chargers for electric vehicles.

The Energy Efficiency Agency and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania presented the first effort under their Clean Energy Road project. On a two-kilometer stretch alongside a street in central Tirana, public lighting will be modernized and innovative renewable energy production systems will be installed to cover its energy needs and supply electricity for chargers of electric vehicles.

The Smart Road Tirana pilot project involves the replacement of 460 street lights with LED technology. The agency said it would save 359 MWh of electricity per year. Setting up fast chargers will prevent estimated annual emissions of 853 tons of carbon dioxide.

Agjencia për Efiçencën e Energjisë ♻️ prezanton projektin pilot "Rruga 🛣 e Pastër e Energjisë ⚡" pic.twitter.com/0P8BhkMRwP

— Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë (@EnergjiaGovAL) December 26, 2020

First self-sufficient road

The entire endeavor enables saving a total of 1,900 tons of CO2 and 43,339 trees per year, according to the announcement. The feasibility study is underway.

The section located parallel to the Lana river will be the first self-sufficient road where all the energy for public lighting and electric cars will be provided by the small wind and solar power devices, the agency claims. After Tirana, it plans to expand the project to other cities.

Of note, the Albanian capital pledged to plant half a million trees within the Trees in Cities Challenge or almost one tree per inhabitant.

Albania plans to set up electric car charging network, replace wood for heating with renewables

Alternative energy sources can cover over 31% of the demand for public lighting and electric vehicle charging, the agency said. In addition to the Clean Energy Road, it is preparing the ground for the establishment of a nation-wide network of electric car chargers with a feasibility study.

The Energy Efficiency Agency stressed the electrification of road transport would only contribute to the improvement of air quality and climate protection if low-carbon or carbonless sources are used.

The third major project is for the replacement of wood for heating purposes with gas and renewable energy sources in Korça.