Share of private power producers in Albania tops 50%

Since last year, there is more electricity generation capacity in private ownership in Albania than in the system under state-controlled utility KESH. Growth in the solar power segment is the biggest factor for the switch. Its share of capacity has reached 10%.

Government-owned KESH in Albania lost its monopoly in electricity production in 2007 with the introduction of hydropower concessions. According to the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE), power plants in private ownership account for the majority of the capacity since last year, Monitor reported.

The total grew by 537 MW in 2024 to 3.21 GW, mainly due to a surge in the photovoltaic segment. KESH operated 1.56 GW or 48.6%, against 1.65 GW run by private companies. One year earlier, the state-owned utility held 56%, the article adds. Nevertheless, a hydropower plant usually generates three times more electricity than a PV plant of the same size.

Diversification into photovoltaics, wind, gas, storage

Albania is specific in the Western Balkans region for having no coal power plants and producing almost all its electricity in hydroelectric systems, which makes it vulnerable to droughts. KESH has dominated the sector mainly with its cascade on the Drin (Drim) river.

Private solar parks are leading the way in capacity additions in Albania, but a hydropower plant normally generates three times more electricity than a PV park of the same capacity

Norway-based Statkraft stands out among the largest private companies, with its projects on the Devoll, together with Turkish company Ayen Enerji’s endeavors in the Fan river basin and Austrian Verbund’s Ashta complex, also on the Drin.

Efforts are underway to diversify the country’s mix with solar and wind energy and introduce storage capacity. However, not a single wind turbine has been built yet. In addition, there is an opportunity for strengthening the electricity supply using gas from the Trans Adriatic Pipeline – TAP.

Two major solar power plants commissioned this year

ERE’s data show that in the first eight months of this year, Albania added two solar power plants of an overall 150 MW and a hydropower facility of 48.9 MW to its transmission grid.

The country hosts Karavasta, the biggest photovoltaic park in the region, at 140 MW in peak capacity. Its operator Voltalia, headquartered in France, is building Spitalla, a 100 MW facility. It won both projects at Albania’s renewable energy auctions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku said today that solar power reached 10% of capacity.

In other recent news, CWP Europe recently signed a joint declaration with the European Commission and the Albanian Investment Development Agency in support of its Tropoja wind farm project.