How much solar power does North Macedonia have?

Solar power Built on a former lignite open pit mining site, North Macedonia's Oslomej solar park will have an installed capacity of 120 MW when fully completed. © Ciril Jazbec

How is electricity produced in North Macedonia?

North Macedonia is a net importer and domestic electricity is produced almost entirely from ESM’s power plants. Electricity imports amount to approximately 20-30% of the total domestic electricity consumption and are mostly required to meet peak winter demand.

Should North Macedonia accelerate the transition to renewables?

Like others in the region, North Macedonia must balance its need to rapidly accelerate the transition to renewables to secure its energy future with the need to ensure that future is one where both the country’s nature and people thrive.

What is North Macedonia's energy mix?

North Macedonia’s energy mix is dominated by domestic lignite coal-fired units and relies heavily on imports mainly in the form of gas and oil products. Coal is the main source of electricity and accounted for 50% of total generation capacity and 58% of electricity generation in 2019, one of the highest level in Europe.

Does North Macedonia need a coal phase-out?

Even though the country has historically been dependent on lignite coal mining for around 30% and gas imports for an additional 15% of its electricity production, it has nonetheless set very ambitious goals for decarbonization. As part of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, North Macedonia has committed to a coal phase-out by 2027.

Does North Macedonia rely on fit?

North Macedonia has multiple small private PV plants (less than 1 MWac) with 24MWac of installed capacity benefiting from FiT. The 10MW Oslomej PV plant financed by the Bank (50415) is the first utility size plant of this kind in the country and the first one to not rely on the FiT regime.