Albania’s renewable energy market is entering a new phase with Fortis Energy’s Ersekë Solar Power Plant in Kolonjë. The project combines 75 MW DC of solar capacity with a 25 MWh battery energy storage system and is expected to generate 135 GWh of electricity annually. For Albania, the significance is not only the size of the plant. It is the decision to pair solar with storage from the outset.
Albania’s electricity system has long been shaped by hydropower. That gives the country a low-carbon generation base in wet years, but also creates vulnerability during dry periods. Hydrology volatility has repeatedly forced Albania to import power at unfavourable prices. Solar-plus-storage offers a way to diversify the generation mix while reducing exposure to import spikes.
Fortis Energy’s decision to move Ersekë into construction therefore speaks to a market opportunity created by Albania’s structural imbalance. Solar output can reduce daytime imports, while the battery can shift part of that production into more valuable periods or support system stability. A 25 MWh battery will not transform the national grid, but it establishes a template for future hybrid projects.
The project also shows the growing role of Turkish renewable investors in the Western Balkans. Fortis Energy, based in Türkiye, is positioning itself in a market where domestic capital is limited, hydropower dependence is high and renewable development is still gaining scale. Albania offers good solar resources, EU-aligned reform pressure and regional interconnection potential. Those factors make it attractive for developers willing to accept early-market risks.
For the Albanian government, the next challenge is market design. Hybrid projects need clear rules for storage operation, grid injection, balancing responsibility and revenue stacking. Without those rules, batteries risk becoming technical appendices rather than commercial assets. With them, Albania can attract more bankable projects and reduce the cost of future capacity.
Ersekë is best understood as a market signal. Albania’s renewable future will not be built on solar alone. It will require storage-backed generation, stronger grid planning and regional trading integration. Fortis is entering early, and the project gives Albania a practical example of how to move beyond hydrology dependence without waiting for large gas or hydro projects to arrive.
