Solar PV panels installed on 108 public buildings in North Macedonia

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on the rooftops of the 108 public buildings under the Government of North Macedonia’s project. The EUR 20.6 million investment is planned to pay off in 7.5 years and reduce CO2 emissions and energy costs.

The PV systems were built in 36 municipalities in 68 elementary and secondary schools, six kindergartens, 18 local municipality administration buildings, two cultural centers, three sports halls, one walk-in clinic, one fire station, and one training center. Also, panels have been installed at the wastewater treatment plants in Berovo, Kičevo and Makedonski Brod, drinking water facilities in Štip, Struga, Gostivar and Tetovo and on a water pumping station in Karbinci.

The annual energy cost savings for all 108 buildings are estimated at EUR 190,000

Buildings in 24-hour mode operation can save from 28 to 82% or 45% on average per month, or EUR 1,000 per building, according to the documentation.

The expected energy cost savings for all 108 buildings are EUR 190,000 per year, while the investment will pay off in 7.5 years, North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said at the official presentation.

The European Union provided EUR 15.5 million, while the rest was secured by the government. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the World Bank.

North Macedonia has 280 sunny days and 1,500 sun hours per year on average

Finance Minister Nina Angelovska said that the use of solar energy in the world is increasing as technologies improve and costs decrease, especially in countries with good solar potential, such as North Macedonia. The country has 280 sunny days with 1,500 sun hours per annum on average.

In her words, kindergarten 7. September in Pehčevo paid MKD 15,185 (EUR 246) for electricity costs for May, June, July and August 2018, while for the same months this year, after installing solar panels, the bill was MKD 8,672 (EUR 140).

The Ministry of Finance is preparing another energy efficiency project for the public sector worth EUR 25 million

The energy cost savings are similar in all other public buildings, while the largest decrease was recorded in the water pumping station in the village of Tarinci, in the Karbinci municipality, where the bills for May-July were reduced from MKD 429,326 (EUR 6.983) to 82,412 (EUR 1.340), she said.

The ministry intends to launch another project to increase energy efficiency in the public sector. Funding will be provided by a World Bank, and municipalities will be able to apply in the first half of next year for EUR 10.5 million for buildings renovation and public lighting modernization. Total value of the project is estimated at EUR 25 million.

Two weeks ago North Macedonia’s state-owned electricity producer Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM – formerly ELEM) and Turkish EPC contractor Girişim Elektrik have signed a contract for the installation of the 10-MW Oslomej solar power plant.