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.

How much solar power does North Macedonia have?

Solar power Built on a former lignite open pit mining site, North Macedonia's Oslomej solar park will have an installed capacity of 120 MW when fully completed. © Ciril Jazbec

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.

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.

Should North Macedonia accelerate the transition to renewables?

Like others in the region, North Macedonia must balance its need to rapidly accelerate the transition to renewables to secure its energy future with the need to ensure that future is one where both the country’s nature and people thrive.

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.