Replacing a former ash dump field with a new solar plant
This case study examines Kosovo’s strategic initiative to diversify its energy sector by constructing the country’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic plant.
About
Kosovo is embarking on a significant green transition by constructing one of its largest solar photovoltaic plants on former ash dump fields near Pristina. This plant will have a capacity of up to 100 MW, which marks a major shift for the country, as its electricity sector is currently heavily reliant on coal-fired power plants, which account for 97% of its energy production.
Challenges:
The Solar4Kosovo project was initiated for several compelling reasons:
- Kosovo has been heavily dependent on coal for its energy production, posing significant risks to energy security, particularly in the context of aging infrastructure and the environmental impact of coal.
- The heavily polluted, and unusable ash field, a byproduct of decades of coal combustion at the Kosovo A power plant, represented a significant environmental liability.
- The health impacts of coal-based energy production have been a growing concern in Kosovo, facing significant challenges related to air pollution.
Solutions
The key aspects of the solution provided by this project include:
The project involves the construction of Kosovo’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic plant, diversifying Kosovo’s energy mix, reducing its reliance on coal, and increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation.
By building the solar plant on a former ash dump field, the project effectively repurposes degraded land that was previously unusable due to coal combustion waste, turning a liability into an asset by using the land for clean energy production.
The project is expected to significantly improve air quality in the region, helping to protect public health.
Impacts
- This investment project will install a solar photovoltaic plant that will increase installed capacities tenfold from 10.1 MW to 110.1 MW.
- As a result, the share of solar power in the energy mix of Kosovo will increase from 0.2% to 2.3%.
- Upon completion, the plant is expected to produce around 152 GWh of electricity and displace 152,000 tonnes of CO2 a year on average.