In an ambitious leap towards a sustainable energy paradigm, the Government of Kosovo* has unveiled the names of six contenders vying to construct a groundbreaking 100 MW solar power plant. This venture stands as the nation’s cornerstone solar project, signaling a robust commitment to renewable energy.
The array of bidders spans the globe, drawing expertise from across Europe and beyond. The roster includes a Turkish consortium composed of Çalik-Limak and Guris Insaat Muhendishik, alongside the Swiss consortium Orllati. Other notable participants are Notus Energy Kosovo from Germany, France’s Akuo Energy SAS, and Elsewedy Electric hailing from Egypt.
Akuo Energy, with its seasoned portfolio in both the European solar sector and emerging markets—including a 180 MW solar project in Portugal and a pioneering floating solar farm in France—marks its inaugural engagement in Kosovo with this bid.
Initiated in May of the preceding year, the tendering process has earmarked Kramovik in the municipality of Orahovac, southern Kosovo*, as the project site. The successful bidder is poised to ink a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with KOSTT, Kosovo’s national electricity market operator, ensuring a steady supply of power from the project. This agreement is poised for transformation into a definitive contract, a strategic move as Kosovo* endeavours to decarbonize its energy mix.
At the close of 2022, Kosovo’s renewable energy landscape was modest, with a mere 10 MW of photovoltaic capacity, as per the International Renewable Energy Agency. A report from the US International Trade Administration in January highlighted the country’s reliance on two outdated and inefficient coal-fired power plants for its energy needs. The Kosovar government, however, envisions shutting down at least one of these coal plants by 2031. This plan raises critical questions about how the nation intends to supplant this capacity, especially in light of a 20% surge in electricity consumption and peak demand between 2018 and 2021.
Kosovo’s strategy leans heavily on renewable sources, including solar energy, to fill the impending void. The government’s target is to meet 35% of its energy demand with renewables by the decade’s end while slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. This supportive stance towards new renewable projects is pivotal for the nation’s energy transition, illustrating Kosovo’s resolve to embrace a greener, more sustainable future.
