Developer Wind Europe MNE has started environmental permitting for the proposed 92.4 MW Njegovudja wind farm near Zabljak, adding another project to Montenegro’s northern renewable-energy pipeline. The company has requested a screening decision from the Environmental Protection Agency on whether a full environmental impact assessment is required. The assessment request is linked to the project’s scale and its mountainous setting, alongside related transmission infrastructure.
Environmental permitting and screening process
The screening decision concerns whether additional evaluation will be needed for the proposed development. The company’s submission points to environmental and spatial-planning requirements as likely to become central issues during the permitting process. The project is located near Zabljak, where the terrain and associated grid works are part of the overall scope.
Project design, grid connection and controls
Njegovudja would consist of 14 turbines, each rated at 6.6 MW. The development includes internal roads and cables, a project substation, and a new 110 kV transmission line linking the wind farm to Montenegro’s transmission network. Once operational, turbine control would be handled through a SCADA platform.
The SCADA system would support remote dispatch, provide real-time production data, enable weather monitoring, and support fault detection. The expected operating life is 25-30 years, after which the site could be repowered or decommissioned and restored. The project design therefore includes both long-term operation and end-of-life options.
Cost, output assumptions and revenue range
An indicative capital envelope for a high-altitude Montenegrin wind project of this size is estimated at approximately €125-155 million, equivalent to €1.35-1.68 million per MW. The upper end of the cost range reflects mountain access, winter construction constraints, heavy-component transport, foundation requirements, and the expense of the 110 kV connection. Annual operating expenditure could reach €3.5-5 million.
With an estimated net capacity factor of 32-38%, the project could generate about 259-308 GWh annually. Gross electricity revenue is estimated at around €18-28 million per year, based on achieved prices of €70-90/MWh. Revenue figures are stated before balancing, curtailment, grid fees and financing costs.
Financing sensitivity and key development risks
A base financing case could support an equity return in the range of 8-10%. An upside case combining stronger wind performance, a bankable power-purchase agreement, and controlled connection costs could move returns towards 11-13%. These figures are presented as indicative development assumptions rather than disclosed project economics.
The principal financial risk is the connection schedule. A 12-18 month grid delay could reduce equity returns by approximately 1.5-3 percentage points, depending on debt drawdown, turbine-storage costs, and whether fixed delivery dates have already been committed. Delay can also expose the developer to changes in turbine pricing and construction availability.
Local impacts under consideration near Zabljak
The location near Zabljak raises additional questions around landscape impact, bird and bat migration, winter access, tourism, and cumulative effects with other wind developments. Strong wind resources alone are not presented as sufficient to make Njegovudja bankable within the stated development framing. The investment case depends on resolving environmental acceptance, transport logistics, and firm transmission capacity before main equipment contracts are committed.
