Bidders Sought For Floating Solar Plant In Albania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says Albania is looking for bidders to set up a 12.9 MW floating solar PV plant on Vau I Dejes Hydropower Plant (HPP) Lake through Solar Energy of Albania (SENA), which is a subsidiary of state-owned power utility Korporata Elektroenergjitike Shqiptare (KESH).

SENA was formed with financing from the EBRD to construct the floating solar PV project in Vaun e Deja where KESH operates 1.35 GW hydropower plant. With this floating PV project, KESH is trying to become resilient to climate change impacting hydropower generation in the future.

Broad scope of work for selected bidder will be to design, build and operate the 12.9 MW facility. It will be funded from proceeds of a loan/grant provided by the bank in 2021. Back then the bank said it will be the 1^st floating solar power plant of this size in the country and Western Balkans (see EBRD Backs 12.9 MW Floating Solar Project In Albania).

The tender was launched on November 2, 2022 and will be open for bids till December 22, 2022 as per details on EBRD’s e-procurement portal.

Another solar power plant supported by the bank, the 140 MW Karavasta facility was won by France’s Voltalia in 2020 for the winning bid of €24.89 per MWh, as against the ceiling of €55.0 per MWh (see Voltalia Wins 140 MW Albanian Solar Auction).

At the end of 2021, Albania’s total installed renewable energy capacity was 2.415 GW, comprising 26 MW solar PV. According to an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report, Albania can install 1 GW solar PV capacity by 2030 to improve its energy security (see IRENA: Albania Has 2.07 GW Solar Potential By 2030).