During the May Day holidays, solar power plants in North Macedonia were temporarily disconnected from the national electricity grid to ensure the stability and safety of the power supply. This decision followed an emergency meeting of relevant authorities, prompted by a recent blackout in Spain and Portugal, where renewable energy sources, including solar power, were identified as contributing factors.
The network stability issues were caused by an oversupply of electricity from solar power plants. These disruptions typically occur during periods of low electricity consumption, such as spring and autumn holidays, when energy demand is lower, but solar production remains high, exceeding the system’s capacity to absorb and distribute the surplus.
To avoid potential system failures, the Energy Regulatory Commission (RKE) authorized the distribution and transmission system operator, MEPSO, to disconnect parts of solar power production as needed. This measure is not unprecedented for North Macedonia, as similar actions were taken during the Easter holidays in 2025 when solar power plants were also disconnected due to excess electricity. These measures have become increasingly necessary as solar capacity grows, while energy storage and system flexibility mechanisms are still being developed.
