Through the “Solar Kosova” project, approved by the government, Kosovo is taking key steps towards reducing the emission of harmful pollutants and replacing non-renewable energy with that of sunlight.

On Wednesday, the government approved two decisions proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure for the solar project.

The first concerns allocating a location in Shkabaj, in the Municipality of Obiliq. for investment in the solar energy project that will be realized in cooperation with Germany.

The second plans to set aside four immovable properties for the Public Enterprise Termokos of Prishtina for realization of the Solar Kosova project.

The project includes the construction of solar collectors of about 69,000 m2 that will add about 70 MW more capacity to the heating system in Prishtina and connect new neighborhoods with the solar thermal system.

The total estimated cost of the project is 64 million euros and it will be financed by Germany with co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD.

Kosovo’s Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, said the project is of great importance for the country.

“This is an extremely important project. Through solar heating over a territory of 69,000 square meters, where the solar collectors will be located, a seasonal reservoir of thermal energy storage, about 410,000 cubic meters of water, will also be built,” he said.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said it will be one of the largest solar power plants in Europe.

“It will add about 70 MW capacity to the heating system in Prishtina. By connecting the capacity in the heating system in Prishtina and new neighborhoods with the system that aims to distribute heat from the solar thermal system to the central heating network, 12,000 families, or 60,000 people, will benefit,” Kurti said.

Termokos, in a post on Facebook, said the latest decisions pave the way for the realization of currently the largest solar energy project in Europe.

According to Termokos, it will have the possibility of integrating two systems: solar energy with cogeneration. Within the project, a heating reservoir of some 400,000 cubic meters is planned.

“One of the advantages of this project is the provision of clean energy, which will have a direct impact on the elimination of air pollution for the capital, as the capacity of the company to expand the heating network increases,” Termokos said.

Some 95 per cent of the energy currently used in Kosovo comes from burning coal, which is a major factor in air pollution.

In a concept paper on renewable energy sources, Kosovo envisages decarbonizing its energy by 2030 by prioritizing green projects, environmental protection and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Through an increase of renewable energy sources, Kosovo foresees a gradual reduction of fossil fuels.

Kosovo has recently taken the first steps to develop the wind energy sector as well. In the villages of Selac and Bajgora, in the Municipality of Mitrovica, the new “Selac Windpark” was inaugurated on Friday last week – the first big strategic investment in Kosovo in renewable energy