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Albania announces results of first onshore wind auction
2/8/2023
News
Three bidders have been awarded capacity totalling 222.48 MW under Albania’s first utility-scale bidder-selected site auction for onshore wind and its third renewable energy auction.
The successful bidders were Total Eren with a bid of €44.88/MWh for a capacity of 75 MW; Guris with a bid of €74/MWh for 74.88 MW; and Verbund with a bid of €74.95/MWh for 72.6 MW.
According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has helped the Albanian authorities introduce competitive procurement processes for renewable energy projects, the ‘result marks a record price for the country and the Western Balkans region’.
Albania launched the auction in 2021, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy running the tender.
Commenting on the news, Gianpiero Nacci, EBRD Director, Sustainable Business and Infrastructure, said: ‘We are very pleased to have supported the first wind auction in the country with bidder-selected sites and look forward to launching the 300 MW solar auction. This success is a game changer for Albania, a testament to what can be achieved with the right policy framework and a government committed to delivering on their renewable energy targets.’ The country has the goal of becoming a net exporter of renewable energy by 2030.
Earlier this year, the EBRD was the anchor financier of the 140 MW Karavasta project, Albania’s first successfully auctioned large utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant.
The EBRD is also working with the government of Albania to assess the country’s offshore wind potential, with the intention of further diversifying the energy mix.
According to the EBRD, Albania has ‘led the way’ in the Western Balkans region by ‘successfully running renewable energy auctions to accelerate the use of renewable energy’. Since 2020, it has awarded 240 MW of solar energy, with record low prices in the region, and 222.48MW of onshore wind. A further 300 MW of solar power will be awarded in the coming months. This brings the total capacity supported by the EBRD through the Renewable Energy Programme to over 460 MW, which reflects about 20% of the region’s current total transmission grid capacity.
