Western Balkans can leapfrog gas for solar and wind to power clean energy transition

Data in the Global Wind and Solar Power Trackers show that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia collectively hold a combined 23 GW of prospective utility-scale solar and wind capacity, which is 70 per cent more than a year ago and comparable to the prospective capacity in Germany.

While Serbia currently boasts the largest share of operating (444 megawatts, or 29 per cent) and prospective (10.9 GW, or 47 per cent) utility-scale solar and wind capacity in the region, it risks falling behind as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia have outpaced it in adding new capacity over the past few years.

Yet the region’s operating utility-scale solar and wind capacity accounts for just 7 per cent of the regional electricity mix (1.5 GW). At the same time, only 6% (1.3 GW) of prospective capacity is under construction and very likely to become operational.

In order to unlock this potential, governments need to address barriers associated with planning and permitting, and develop supportive legal frameworks and complementary infrastructure to build up a clean and flexible grid. Renewables zoning should be done with rigorous environmental safeguards, to reduce trade-offs with nature and biodiversity. Local communities should also be actively involved in, and benefit from the projects. 

For their part, the EU and U.S. need to embrace solar and wind instead of gas as an energy security measure to help the Western Balkans reach its full clean energy potential. 

Zhanaiym Kozybay, co-author of the report and researcher for Global Energy Monitor, said: ‘The Western Balkans are in a unique position because the region isn’t already shackled to gas infrastructure. Wind and solar are low hanging fruit, and choosing renewables is a greener move that makes economic sense. But more political will is needed domestically, and the EU and U.S. should champion the region’s clean energy potential rather than backing expensive, polluting gas.’

Chris Vrettos, project manager at the European Federation of Energy Communities, REScoop.eu, said: ‘This accelerated shift to renewables is a very welcome step, but we must ensure that it is done democratically. Governments should create enabling frameworks to facilitate the growth of energy communities. Project developers should also open part of their projects to shares by local citizens and communities. This would offer a new source of revenue to many households, providing much needed economic prospects especially to communities in ex-coal areas.’

Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe energy policy officer at Bankwatch, said: ‘After years of over-reliance on climate-vulnerable hydropower, it’s gratifying to see solar and wind finally accelerating in the Western Balkans. The challenge now is to speed up improvements in spatial planning, environmental assessments and public participation, to prevent biodiversity damage and build public support.’

Contacts

Zhanaiym Kozybay

Researcher, Global Energy Monitor

zhanaiym.kozybay@globalenergymonitor.org

Chris Vrettos

Project manager, European Federation of Energy Communities, REScoop.eu

chris.vrettos@rescoop.eu

Pippa Gallop 

Southeast Europe energy policy officer, Bankwatch

pippa.gallop@bankwatch.org

About Global Energy Monitor 

Global Energy Monitor (GEM) develops and shares information in support of the worldwide movement for clean energy. By studying the evolving international energy landscape and creating databases, reports, and interactive tools that enhance understanding, GEM seeks to build an open guide to the world’s energy system. Follow us at www.globalenergymonitor.org and on Twitter @GlobalEnergyMon.

GEM data serves as a vital international reference point that is being used by agencies including: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), International Energy Agency (IEA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), U.S. Treasury Department, and the World Bank. Furthermore, industry data providers such as Bloomberg Terminals and the Economist, and academic institutions like University of Oxford and Harvard University draw on this data.

About Bankwatch

CEE Bankwatch Network is the largest network of grassroots environmental groups in central and eastern Europe and a leading force in preventing dubious public investments that harm the planet and people’s well-being. The banks and funds we watch are often obscure but always important entities that function outside the realm of public scrutiny. Together with local communities and other NGOs we work to expose their influence and provide a counterbalance to their unchecked power. Follow us at www.bankwatch.org and on Twitter @ceebankwatch.

About REScoop.eu

REScoop.eu, the European Federation of Citizen Energy Communities, is a network organization representing over 2,250 European energy cooperatives and their 1,500,000 citizens. The organization’s vision centers around a clean energy transition, where energy is a democratic good, accessible to all. REScoop.eu’s main areas of work include: policy, capacity building, and networking.

About Electra Energy

Electra Energy is a social cooperative founded in 2016 aiming to facilitate the transition to a democratic energy system in Greece and South-East Europe. Through networking, advocacy, and capacity building it’s assisting citizens, SMEs and Municipalities in the creation of community energy projects.

About the Global Solar and Wind Power Trackers

The Global Solar Power Tracker is a worldwide dataset of utility-scale solar photovoltaic and solar thermal facilities. It includes solar farm phases with capacities of 20 megawatts (MW) or more (10 MW or more in Arabic-speaking countries) and medium utility-scale projects down to 1 MW globally. The Global Wind Power Tracker is a worldwide dataset of utility-scale, on and offshore wind facilities. It includes wind farm phases with capacities of 10 megawatts (MW) or more.