Solar power plants in North Macedonian industrial zones to supply exporters to EU

Solar power plants are planned to be built within public-private partnerships in the TIDZ industrial zones in North Macedonia. They are set to supply manufacturers exporting their products to the European Union, enabling them to avoid the CBAM carbon border tax.

Industrial producers are increasingly looking to secure green electricity to fulfill their climate goals. European and North American companies also need to tackle the cost of greenhouse gas emissions under emissions trading systems to stay competitive, so they are turning to cleaner energy sources. Manufacturers outside the EU are facing the gradual introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from 2026, which will burden them with carbon dioxide levies for exporting products to the 27-member trade bloc.

North Macedonia opted to establish public-private partnerships through its Directorate for Technological-Industrial Development Zones (TIDZ or, in Macedonian, TIRZ) for solar power projects. Photovoltaic plants are envisaged to attract and supply producers that would deliver their goods to the EU.

Solar power project of 10 MW underway

Tetovo zone co-owner, concessionaire and operator Normak Investment has received a trial operation license for its planned 10 MW solar power unit from the Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission (RKE).

Separately, TIDZ signed a deal of EUR 6.7 million with Zobek Mining to prepare the locations for solar power plants. They are in zones Skopje 1, Skopje 2, Štip, Strumica, Prilep and Struga. The directorate said the works would be funded from the fees that PV plant operators pay.

Of note, TIDZ launched a public call late last year for public-private partnerships for solar power systems. Turkish company Fides Elektrik Enerjisi was the first winner.

TIDZ Tetovo operator creating green energy zone

Normak Investment, a joint venture of Norwegian companies, announced two years ago that it would make the Tetovo complex in the country’s west into a green energy zone.

Moreover, North Macedonia–based PiKCELL Group said in September 2022 that it would build a solar power panel factory in TIDZ Tetovo with German company AE Solar.