Albania's Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy led by Belinda Balluku is getting ready to launch a solar PV tender for 100 MW capacity for the Spitalles region in the Balkan country, according to reports covered by local media.
Power generated by 50 MW of the project will be procured by the government while that from the remaining 50 MW will be allowed to be sold into the open market. The same condition was in force for the last 2 auction rounds.
If it is launched, it will be the country's 3rd solar PV tender. The 1st tender for 100 MW PV capacity was won by a India Power Corporation led consortium in November 2018 (see Consortium Led By Indian Firm Wins Albania Tender). There hasn't been much activity on this project, the local media reports point out, in the 2-year period hence.
In May 2020, France's Voltalia won the 2nd solar auction for 140 MW capacity in Karavasta which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) referred to as the 'first' solar auction in the Balkan country with the winning bid of €24.89 per MWh (see Voltalia Wins 140 MW Albanian Solar Auction).
Meanwhile, Norwegian energy company Statkraft has contracted Ocean Sun to build a 2 MW floating solar power plant in Albania as a pilot project costing around €2 million. It will be located at Banja Reservoir (see Ocean Sun To Develop 2 MW Floating PV For Statkraft).