Western Balkans Solar and Wind Power Market in 2019
/29th January 2019, by Renewable Market Watch™/
The EU Enlargement process is the accession of new countries to the European Union (EU). It proved to be one of the most successful tools in promoting political, economic and societal reforms, and in consolidating peace, stability and democracy. The EU operates comprehensive approval procedures that ensure new countries will be able to play their part fully as members by complying with all the EU's standards and rules (the "EU acquis"). The conditions of memberships are covered by the Treaty on European Union.
Western Balkans and the European Union (EU)
The EU relations with the Western Balkan countries take place within a special framework known as the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) in view of stabilising the region and establishing free-trade agreements. To this end, six Western Balkan countries have signed contractual relationships (bilateral Stabilisation and Association Agreements, or SAAs) which entered into force, depending on the country, between 2004-2016.
All the Western Balkan countries have committed to increase their share of renewable energy by 2020 to reach between 25 and 40 percent of their energy mix, as part of their obligations under the Energy Community Treaty. Western Balkan countries are planning to build nearly 3,000 MW of new coal power plants. The construction cost of these power plants could exceed EUR 5 billion. This is in conflict with the Paris Agreement's aim of limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and in contrast with the situation in the EU, where most countries are giving up building new coal plants and seven EU states are already coal-free. Germany announced at the end of this month plans to end its reliance on coal power plants by 2038.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power in Western Balkans
Geographically, all Western Balkan countries are suitable for the production of photovoltaic energy throughout the whole year. The solar irradiation potential of the Western Balkan countries territory varies in accordance with the differences in the sunlight intensity between the countries. The average annual sunshine duration is roughly 2,130 hours. Also, high irradiation can sometimes be found on altitudes and terrains unsuitable for agriculture. In such cases, owners and municipalities would be motivated to sell or lease land that would otherwise generate little or no income.
Due to the lack of proper government support for solar photovoltaic (PV) energy in Western Balkan countries, the region, trails far behind Western Europe and Central Europe in terms of cumulative installed solar PV capacity. However, this situation has started to change since 2015. A number of new solar PV projects have been planned and commissioned in Western Balkan countries, reveals Western Balkans Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Market Outlook 2018÷2027.
Albania’s government targets to have 120 MW of solar PV capacity by 2020. HEP Group will build Croatia's biggest solar PV power plant on the island of Cres with 6.5 MW power capacity. Orlec Trinket East Solar Power Plant will be built on an area of 17 hectares, about 2 km north from Orlec settlement on the island of Cres. The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of the Republika Srpska has launched a tender for the construction of a 65 MW solar PV power plant in the middle of 2018 with the aim to attract domestic and international investors. Macedonia’s first solar module factory started commercial operation in 2018. The factory is owned by the PikCELL Group in partnership with Solar ET and is a 100 % private investment. It has production capacity of 20 MW of solar PV modules per year.
Wind Power in Western Balkans
Wind power plant developments in the Western Balkan countries are still limited and in early development phase. The whole region is characterized with a huge untapped wind generation potential. Although the wind speed is not as fast as that of northern Europe, the Western Balkans offers many very feasible sites for wind generation. Particularly in the many higher mountainous regions, that have higher altitudes and faster and more consistent wind speeds.
According to Western Balkans Wind Power Market Outlook 2018÷2027 the number of wind power plant projects is quickly increasing. Albania’s government targets to have 70 MW of wind power capacity by 2020. Čibuk 1 Wind farm is a utility scale onshore wind farm under development in Serbia. Due for completion in 2019, the 158 megawatt (MW) capacity Čibuk 1 wind farm will be the largest utility-scale commercial wind project in Serbia and the Western Balkans. Construction of one large scale wind project in Croatia has been started in the second half of 2018. The 156-MW wind farm, consisting of 39 wind turbines with 4-MW capacity each, shall be built by the Chinese company Norinco International and will spread over 45 sq. km. territory. The project was supported by both the Croatian and the Chinese government.
Conclusions
Our observations have shown that the Western Balkans region has a vast potential for solar and wind energy projects development while currently only a small share of that potential has been deployed. The region has a significant transformation potential towards a low carbon energy system. To overcome the future gap between energy supply and demand, as well as taking into consideration the risks from global climate change, a lot of attention should orient to renewable energy sources (RES) in the Western Balkans countries.
Western Balkan countries are the new found hotspot for solar and wind energy investments amongst European countries. The maturing Western European and Central European markets allowed investors to look for new opportunities in the Western Balkans region.
The more information about deals, activities, projects under development and legal regulations on Western Balkans solar and wind energy markets you may read here: Western Balkans Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Market Outlook 2018÷2027 and Western Balkans Wind Power Market Outlook 2018÷2027
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