How much solar power does Kosovo have?

With regard to solar power, Kosovo’s installed capacity at the end of 2020 stood at 20,9MW, the bulk of which are sited at agricultural facilities throughout the country. However, a few recently announced solar power projects are poised to increase that number significantly.9

How can development finance support solar PV projects in Kosovo?

Many of the solar PV projects currently being developed in Kosovo have benefitted from support from development finance institutions such as the EBRD or the IFC. Indeed, the role of DFIs has arguably been instrumental in helping catalyse investment, and in building other lenders’ confidence in providing loans to the sector.

How can Kosovo improve its solar and wind power system?

As Kosovo increases the share of solar and wind, it will need to put far greater emphasis on power system integration and on other aspects such as real-time weather forecasting in order to better govern the transition while maintaining reliability.

Could Scaling Solar be replicated in Kosovo?

And while Kosovo may not be in a position to launch its own initiative as part of Scaling Solar in the next year or two, there are several aspects of the Scaling Solar approach that could be replicated in Kosovo. 28 Indeed, a recent survey economists conducted in October 2021 found that expectations for a rate rise were increasing.

Is battery storage the lowest cost option in Kosovo?

As such, batteries can be an important complement to a power system dominated by variable renewables; however, as the graph above shows, battery storage may not necessarily be the lowest cost option in Kosovo's context, particularly if greater access to supply from neighboring jurisdictions can be secured through expanded grid interconnection.

Can pumped hydro storage be used in Kosovo?

In Kosovo’s case, the use of pumped hydro storage could potentially be feasible, but given the range of flexibility options available, it should not be considered necessary to achieving Kosovo’s overall energy transition objectives.