On Friday, PM Albin Kurti, together with Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, and the Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power,  inaugurated the auction for the first solar energy park in Kosovo. The project is anticipated to attract an investment of 75 million euros to produce 100 megawatts of energy.

Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, stated that the opening of Kosovo’s first solar energy auction marks the beginning of a new era for sustainable development in the country.

“The development of renewable resources in our country is no longer a distant notion. It is clear that we need energy sources today that can provide sufficient energy at affordable prices without destroying the planet,” she declared.

Rizvanolli further emphasized that these additional 100 megawatts would greatly benefit the Kosovar economy.

PM Albin Kurti highlighted his government’s vision for stability and transitioning from fossil fuel-based energy to renewable sources.

“This auction aligns with the essential goals of our government, which are equal opportunities for all stakeholders, innovation, affordable prices, and ensuring transparency,” Kurti declared.

USAID Administrator, Samantha Power,  stated that Kosovo’s future will be bright and without interruption of electricity.

She emphasized that Kosovo should serve as an example for other countries regarding energy transformation.

“We have witnessed the commitment of Kosovo’s leaders to embark on an energy transformation journey, which we hope will inspire other countries to pursue similar paths,” she emphasized.

Kosovo currently faces challenges with unstable electricity supply and high levels of pollution from aging coal-burning thermal power plants.

Presently, approximately 94 per cent of electricity in Kosovo is generated from coal, while around 6 per cent comes from renewable sources such as hydropower plants, wind power plants, and solar panels.

The existing renewable energy production capacity is 244 megawatts.

The Energy Strategy 2022-2031 aims to renovate the two units of the Thermal Power Plant “Kosova B” and at least one unit of the Thermal Power Plant “Kosova A” by 2030. This will increase the production capacity to a minimum of 540 megawatts for base load and 360 megawatts for reserve capacity.

By 2031, the government aims to cover at least 35 per cent of energy consumption from renewable sources and achieve a capacity of 1,600 megawatts.

Furthermore, the plan includes developing new energy capacities, such as 600 megawatts of wind power, 600 megawatts of photovoltaics, 20 megawatts of biomass, and at least 100 megawatts of capacity from self-generating consumers.

The government’s strategy includes market integration with Albania in 2023 and integration into the Pan-European market area by 2030. The Wholesale Supply Agreement will be gradually phased out, starting no later than 2025.