Albania has revised its agricultural land legislation to enable solar, agrivoltaic, wind and battery-storage projects on farmland. The amendments are intended to open a new category of potential sites for the country’s expanding renewable-energy market. Parliament approved changes to the Law on the Protection of Agricultural Land as part of the legislative update.
The approved amendments authorize the Council of Ministers to set detailed conditions for energy developments on agricultural property. Secondary legislation will define which land classifications can be used for such projects. It will also specify technical restrictions and the level of agricultural activity required to continue alongside electricity production.
Agrivoltaics and land-use conditions under the amended framework
The legislative change is particularly relevant for agrivoltaic projects that integrate solar panels with crop production or livestock farming. Properly designed schemes are described as capable of providing farmers with rental income, electricity and protection against extreme weather. Opposition concerns focus on how poorly regulated developments could operate as conventional solar parks on fertile farmland.
Opposition representatives argue that core land-use protections should be included in the law itself rather than deferred to government regulations. They also cite wind projects as an area of concern due to potential permanent physical changes from turbine foundations, roads, crane platforms and underground cables. The debate centers on how protections would be applied through secondary measures.
Government position and ministerial presentation
The government says the legislation will allow carefully controlled interventions combining modern agriculture with clean-energy production. Agriculture Minister Andis Salla presented the framework as a means to improve farm productivity while introducing advanced energy technologies. The government’s position links the amended rules to maintaining agricultural operations alongside power generation.
Albania has about 1 GW of installed solar capacity but has not yet commissioned its first commercial wind farm. The opening of agricultural land is expected to affect both solar and wind development trajectories. The extent of any project pipeline is described as dependent on implementing regulations, grid availability and how land rights are handled.
Permitting, bankability and requirements for developers
For developers and lenders, agricultural classification is no longer expected to be the only test for project bankability. Projects will need enforceable leases, confirmed grid capacity, environmental approval, soil-restoration obligations and decommissioning security. These elements are presented as conditions that must be in place before development proceeds.
Agrivoltaic schemes will also require measurable agricultural-performance criteria. The criteria are intended to prevent farming activity from being used only as a planning justification without delivering measurable agricultural outcomes. Secondary regulation will determine whether the changes create a controlled investment market or contribute to land disputes and permitting delays.
