Western Balkans countries have a combined 23 GW of prospective solar and wind projects, enough to produce four times the electricity generated by gas-fired plants, a report by US-based NGO Global Energy Monitor shows.
The combined prospective solar and wind capacity of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia is 70% more than a year ago and comparable to the prospective capacity in Germany, according to the report.
However, the region’s operating utility-scale solar and wind capacity accounts for just 7% of the regional electricity mix (1.5 GW) and only 6% (1.3 GW) of prospective capacity is under construction and very likely to become operational.
While Serbia currently boasts the largest share of operating (444 megawatts, or 29%) and prospective (10.9 GW, or 47%) utility-scale solar and wind capacity in the region, it risks falling behind Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia have outpaced it in adding new capacity over the past few years, the report reads.
“The Western Balkans are in a unique position because the region isn’t already shackled to gas infrastructure. Wind and solar are low-hanging fruit, and choosing renewables is a greener move that makes economic sense. But more political will is needed domestically, and the EU and U.S. should champion the region’s clean energy potential rather than backing expensive, polluting gas,” Zhanaiym Kozybay, co-author of the report and researcher for Global Energy Monitor, said.
To unlock this potential, governments must address planning and permitting barriers, develop supportive legal frameworks, and build complementary infrastructure for a clean, flexible grid. Renewables zoning should include strong environmental safeguards to protect nature and biodiversity, and local communities should be actively involved and benefit from the projects, according to the report, seenews.com reports.
