Voltalia of France has once again cracked the solar PV auction of Albania – this time it won 100 MW capacity with a bid of €0.02989 ($0.035) per kWh. Its selection was announced by the Albanian Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku on her Twitter handle.
The French company is already building 140 MW Karavasta Solar Park in Karavasta region of Albania which it won in May 2020 as the 2nd solar auction of the country, offering to build the system for €0.02489 per kWh (see Voltalia Wins 140 MW Albanian Solar Auction).
The Energy Ministry launched the tender for 100 MW capacity in November 2020 seeking a developer to build the facility in Durrës region, on 120 hectares land (see Tender Launched For Albania's 100 MW Solar Park).
Voltalia beat 4 other 'international and local companies' that participated in the auction to win the project. The French company along with China's Universal Energy were the 2 shortlisted bidders.
Of the 100 MW won, power generated by 70 MW capacity will be purchased by the state utility Operatori i Shpërndarjes së Energjisë Elektrike SH.A. (OSHEE), while that from remaining 30% will be sold in the open market.
Energy Minister Belinda Balluku said success of the Karavasta project attracted interest from investors for this project.
In a recent report on the Albanian energy market, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) batted for vast deployment of solar and wind power in the country to achieve energy security, estimating solar's potential for an installed capacity of 1,074 MW by 2030, growing from 10 MW installed end of 2018.