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Albania

Country Profile

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Latest Developments
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Projects
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Policy/Regulatory

 

 

 

Electricity generation in Albania is dominated by large hydroelectric facilities, contributing to over 85 percent of total electric capacity.   Although Albania has been a net exporter of electricity in the past, over the last 5 or 6 years the country has relied on imports.   There is a state-wide effort to reduce electricity shortages and excessive demand by implementing strong penalties against theft and defaults by consumers.   

In general, renewable energy data for Albania is limited.   At this time there have been no regulatory incentives identified for the development of renewable energy projects.   Due to in-country know-how and available resources, hydro appears to be the most promising resource for renewable energy project development.   There is however, a concern to increase reliability in dry years when hydro power output is significantly reduced.  Privatization seems to be the main driver behind small hydro rehabilitation and development.

 

Although Albania is in a somewhat favorable climate for solar development, it does not seem likely that there will be an emphasis on solar development in the near future due to its relatively high costs.  There are numerous locations of low to medium enthalpy geothermal wells identified in Albania, but there are no known high enthalpy locations identified for electricity production.   Sufficient wind data is not available to estimate the technical potential of wind energy, and the low electricity rates seem to hinder the economical development of wind energy.   Incentives and interest in biomass renewable energy projects seems low at this point, although a significant technical potential was identified (17.5 TWh/yr thermal), perhaps enough for 600 MW of power generating capacity.       

 

 

Country Profile and Notes

 

More information is provided in the country profile and country notes, including specific resource and energy sector information:

View 2009 Country Profile

View 2005 Country Profile (460 kB pdf)

View 2002 Country Notes  (163 kB pdf)

 

 

 

Latest Developments

 

TitleSummarypubDate
EBRD/Iberdrola Subsidiaries Team for Eastern Europe Wind Development

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced plans to finance projects in several emerging wind energy markets in eastern Europe.
The EBRD, a London-based international financial institution that supports projects in 29 countries from central Europe to central Asia, said it would acquire 25% stakes in the Hungarian and Polish subsidiaries of the Spanish wind power Iberdrola. The EBRD will invest a maximum of EUR125million for the stakes and will also evaluate the possibility of collaborating with Iberdrola in the Romanian market.

09-Feb-10
Albania Tenders Construction of Hydropower Plants
Albania has tendered a concession for the construction of hydropower plants on the Shushica River, in Vlore, southern Albania, the economy, trade and energy ministry (www.mete.gov.al) said in a statement.
05-Jan-10
Southeast Europe Energy Efficiency Fund Created
A new fund has been set to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and reduce carbon emissions in the Balkans and Turkey.
22-Dec-09
Eight Hydro Projects Approved in Albania
Construction of the Bjeshke, Sllove and Veleshica 1-6 plants was awarded to a consortium comprising Advisor C. Energy shpk, Polistamp System srl and Energia e Territorio srl, the government (www.keshilliministrave.al) said in a statement.
23-Nov-09
Petrom Considers Geothermal and Wind Investments
The company didn’t disclose further details on these projects, but mentioned Petrom’s central focus were geothermal and wind energy. “It is too early to say when we will begin investments because it largely depends on how long will the current economic crisis last”, said Razvan Nicolescu. In another interview, Petrom's CEO Mariana Gheorghe (photo) said recently that Romania needs a serious strategy on promoting renewable energies, especially having in view that the potential is "fantastic".
 
19-Nov-09
Update: Albania's 48-MW Ashta Hydro Power Plant Breaks Ground
TIRANA, Albania 6/5/09 (PennWell) With Albania Prime Minister Sali Berisha in attendance, Austrian utility Verbund and SPV Energji Ashta broke ground for construction of the 48-MW Ashta hydropower plant on Albania’s Drin River in Shkoder District.
The 160 million euro (US$227 million) investment is for a run-of-river hydropower plant to be built south of Shkoder, making it the fourth hydro plant on the Drin, but the first to be built in more than 30 years.
 
05-Jun-09
Update: Construction Begins on Three Albania Hydro Projects
TIRANA, Albania 6/16/09 (PennWell) Austrian utility EVN and Norway's Statkraft began construction June 8, 2009, of three hydroelectric plants totaling 340 MW on Albania’s Devoll River.
16-Jun-09
Report From Moscow Energy Trade FairEven though the effects of the global financial and economic crisis have affected the Russian construction industry significantly, interest in innovative building and energy technology was unabated at SHK MOSCOW 2009, 13th International Industrial and Technology Trade Fair for Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, Refrigeration, Building Automation, Sanitation and Renewable Energies. A total of 11,300 trade visitors from the CIS and neighboring countries attended Russia’s leading event for this industry and 200 exhibitors from 19 countries showcased their products on 107,600 square feet of exhibit space.
21-May-09
Slovenian Group to Build Albanian Hydropower
A Slovenian consortium will build several hydro electric power plants on the river of Shala in northern Albania. As part of the EUR 145m project, the Interenergo consortium will also operate the power plants in the next 35 years, the consortium wrote in a press release on Thursday.
30-Apr-09
EBRD, Energy Community to Host Regional Energy Forum in Sarajevo
“Investing in electricity generation and renewable energy” 30-31 March 2009, Holiday Inn Hotel, Sarajevo
The EBRD and the Energy Community will host a Regional Energy Forum in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 March 2009, which will focus on investment opportunities in electricity generation and renewable energy.
23-Feb-09
Albanian US$1.3B Biomass/Wind Energy Park Reported
Italian government sources report that an Italian company, Marseglia Group, has signed a $1.3 billion project with the Albanian government to build a biomass energy park in northern Albania, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture attache report posted Tuesday on the Foreign Agricultural Services Web site.
10-Feb-09
Albanian Hydro Approval
The Albanian government has approved a deal with two foreign companies to build three hydropower plants in eastern Albania.
Austria's EVN utility and Norway's Statkraft will invest €950m ($1.37bn) to build three power plants on the river Devol which flows into the Adriatic Sea south of the capital Tirana.
 
22-Jan-09
Albanian Wind and Biofuel Projects Planned
TIRANA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Albania signed on Friday a deal worth 1 billion euros (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) with an Italian company to build an energy park.
    Under the deal, Italy's Marseglia Group will build a 140-megawatt liquid biomass energy plant and two 234-megawatt wind farms, local media reported.
24-Jan-09
Major Wind Farm for Albania
Albania is to host what is expected to become Europe's biggest onshore wind farm when it is completed, according to plans announced by the Italian Moncada construction company.
The project, which has already been approved by the Albanian government, will have a total generating capacity of 500 megawatts, Moncada said.
21-Jan-08
New Transmission Line to Export Wind Power From Albania
The new power line with a capacity of 500 megawatts and total length of 145 km will connect Italy's southern port of Brindisi and Albania's Valona, with a 130 km long submarine link.
Moncada, says it is the fifth biggest Italian wind power generator and has a 105 MW installed capacity in the country, plans to build a 500 MW wind park in Albania to export electricity to Italy.
21-Jan-08

(Items 1 to 15)Next

 Projects
Project TitleTechnologyCapacity MWStatus
Verbund's Ashta HydroHydroelectric50
announced
Fuzuli Hydropower PlantHydroelectric25
Northern Albania Energy ParkWind374
planned
Devol River HydropowerHydroelectric340
planned
Marseglia Group Wind and BiofuelsWind140 MW biomass and 234 MW Wind
planned
Vlora Wind FarmWind500
planned
Italgest Kryevidhi, Albania Wind FarmWind150
Proposed
Devoll River (Albania) HydroHydroelectric400
planned
Devoli River Albania HydroHydroelectric400
planned
KalivaciHydroelectric120
Planned
BushatiHydroelectric84
Planned
Banja KeshHydroelectric60
Planned
VukelHydroelectric0.05
Operating
Vau I DejaHydroelectric258
Operating
UlzaHydroelectric25.6
Operating

(Items 1 to 15)Next

 Policy/Regulatory
Policy NameTechnologySponsor
PM Statement on RenewablesHydroelectricAlbanian Prime Minister

 


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