What are the decarbonisation plans in North Macedonia?

Decarbonisation plans in North Macedonia are taking a big leap forward. The European Union (EU) is supporting ESM, the state-owned electricity company, to implement a 30 MW photovoltaic (PV) project consisting of 10 MW on a portion of the exhausted coal mine of thermal power plant Oslomej, and 20 MW adjacent to the thermal power plant Bitola.

How will a new solar plant help Macedonia?

Andi Aranitasi, EBRD Head of North Macedonia, said: “The new solar plant will help the country, which faces severe air pollution from coal, to reduce its reliance on ageing coal-fired infrastructure. It will also generate cheap electricity in times of very high market prices.

Who built the first solar plant in North Macedonia?

The 10MW solar plant, built on the site of the spent Oslomej lignite coal mine, was constructed by the public company JSC Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM). This is the company’s first solar plant in North Macedonia, developed with a view to diversifying energy sources and supporting decarbonisation.

How much electricity does Macedonia produce?

ESM, a public electricity generation utility owned by the government of North Macedonia, provides 90 per cent of the country’s domestic electricity production – about 3,600 GWh from two thermal power plants and 1,250 GWh from eight hydropower plants.

Is North Macedonia a good place to invest in green energy?

Dimitar Kovačevski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia: "It is really a great pleasure to be here today, where once a big environmental polluter was located and now we are producing green energy. The benefits of this investment are manifold.

Does North Macedonia rely on fit?

North Macedonia has multiple small private PV plants (less than 1 MWac) with 24MWac of installed capacity benefiting from FiT. The 10MW Oslomej PV plant financed by the Bank (50415) is the first utility size plant of this kind in the country and the first one to not rely on the FiT regime.