
DELEGATE PASS
- Participation in all the sessions of the Conference
- Exhibition, networking, coffee breaks/lunches and Gala dinner
- Access to B2B Zone with facilitated meetings
- Access to presentations and photos
Developing RES and Attracting FDI
The event brings together authorities and energy companies from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo as well as international financial institutions and major multinational investors, EPC and consultancy firms for a dialogue aimed at fostering the deployment of renewable energy in the region and attracting foreign direct investment.
One of many things the Western Balkan’s countries have in common is the enormous solar energy potential and the fact that it is almost untapped yet. Two solar projects (100 and 140 MW) were awarded to a renewable energy developer in Albania in 2021. The Serbian government is in talks to sign a contract with the US-based company to develop 1 GW of solar power projects across the country. One of the biggest projects of North Macedonia contracted lately is that of two PV plants (100 MW) at the former TPP Oslomej coal mine. The 262 MW Briska Gora PV plant project development is in full swing in Montenegro. The Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska (BiH) announced the works on ERS’s solar power plant Trebinje 1 (73 MW) could start in the spring and that two more of 55 MW each, are planned in the same locality. The Government of Kosovo signed an agreement with IFC in 2021 to support the development of a 50 MW Solar PV Power Plant.
The opportunities for deployment of wind energy are extensive in the Western Balkans. Serbia alone has over 2.7 GW of wind energy projects in the pipeline; a 300 MW Vetrozelena wind farm project is developing in full swing among others. Albania has launched its first tender for utility-scale onshore wind power plants this year. The Government of North Macedonia has given the green light to a German wind developer for the 415 MW Virovi wind farm. Chinese investors are planning to start the construction of the 84 MW Ivonik wind farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereas representatives of a German wind developer presented the propositions and projects for the construction of future wind farms with a total capacity of 1.07 GW to the prime minister. The construction of the 102.6 MW Selac wind farm in Kosovo’s Mitrovica municipality, a project worth 170 million euros in which the main investor is an Israeli renewable energy company, was completed this year.
The Western Balkans has the largest remaining unexploited hydropower potential in Europe. And although there have been some breaks, the hydropower boom is very much ongoing with both big and small projects being in various phases of development around the region. Albania’s Power Corporation (KESH) signed an agreement this year to begin the early works for the 210 MW Skavica HPP on the Drin river. In Serbia, investments in new large-scale HPPs include the construction of pumped storage hydropower plants Đerdap 3 (2,400 MW)and Bistrica (680 MW). In North Macedonia, nine bidders have been selected in the first phase of the international call for the construction of the 333 MW Chebren HPP and moved on to technical negotiations before submitting their final bids, expected in January 2022. State-owned power utilities Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) and Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) are in talks over joint construction of the 155 MW Komarnica HPP in Montenegro.
08:20
By invitation only.
1 hour
08:30
Registration and welcome coffee.
1 hour
09:30
Official opening and welcome addresses.
1 hour
What are the opportunities of the Western Balkans when it comes to clean energy and renewables? How does the potential of the region compare to that in Western EU countries? Which policy and regulatory choices are promising to accelerate renewable energy deployment? How to make a significant contribution to the Green Agenda for the region? Are individual countries on track to meet the Paris climate goals when it comes to ending fossil fuels? What would make investors more interested to invest in the region? Is it the economic stability, the regulatory predictability? How can the Western Balkans electricity mix be made sustainable? And why are some countries still interested in building new coal plants whereas renewables nowadays are cheaper? From coal to clean? Setting a coal phaseout date as an important condition for a successful transition. Switching from centralized to decentralized energy generation and distribution. Establishing power exchanges in the region.
1.5 hours
How to guarantee the lowest possible price for investing in renewables in the region? Moving from a feed-in tariff scheme to an auction system. How will the countries finance the social, environmental and energy costs of closing coal mines?
How to scale up renewable energy investments in the countries and increase the investment attractiveness of the region? What are the risks involved and what is the way to minimise them?
1.5 hours
What do owner-operators need to be able to grow the region’s wind power sector? Which projects are currently under development or planned?
Among the wind energy projects offered for a discussion: Košava 2 (68,4 MW); Pupin wind farm (95.5 MW); Vetrozelena wind farm (300 MW); Čibuk 2 (300 MW); Krivača wind farm (103 MW); Alibunar I & II (168 MW); Virovi wind farm (415 MW); Ivonik wind farm (84 MW); wind farms Kruzi, Vaganj, Glamoč and Marino Brdo (1,07 GW); Poklečani wind power plant (132 MW), etc.
1.5 hours
19:30
All registered participants are welcome!
3 hours
The role of hydrogen in the region’s energy transition. When will the countries develop their strategies for hydrogen energy? Funding the hydrogen economy. How to secure the capital needed to make green hydrogen succeed? What other support should be given to green hydrogen production in the Western Balkans? How important is it to establish regional and European partnerships? What projects are there currently and what experiences can be passed on to the Western Balkans? Leading technologies for a hydrogen-based energy transition.
1 hour
What are the most promising solar energy projects in the regions? Insights on cost reduction, technology trends and the need to prepare electricity grids for rising shares of solar PV in the region.
Among the solar PV projects offered for a discussion: Spitalla (100 MW) and Karavatsa Solar (140 MW); Vau I Dejës floating solar PV farm (12,9 MW); Agrosolar Kula (660 MW); Erdželija solar power plant (80 MW); Oslomej solar power plants (100 MW); Briska Gora PV plant (262 MW); Trebinje solar power plant (73 MW); the Kosovo Solar project (50 MW), etc.
1.5 hours
What are the perspectives for further development of the hydropower sector in the Western Balkans? What are the innovations in the hydropower development technologies to assist with the region’s demand? What are the most promising ongoing and investment projects in the region?
Among the hydropower projects to be presented: Skavica HPP (210 MW); Đerdap 3 PSHP (2,400 MW); Bistrica PSHP (680 MW); Chebren HPP (333 MW); HPP Komarnica (155 MW); Vrilo PSHP (64 MW), etc.
1.5 hours
Western Balkans have much to gain from a regional approach to energy security and greater integration of markets. What are the prospects for regional integration in the energy sector? Can energy be seen as a catalyst to bring the Western Balkans’ countries closer to EU membership? What are the opportunities for mobilizing funding for joint implementation of priority projects? The importance of the exchange of experience and the promotion of clean energy technologies in the region.
1.5 hours
17:00
Conference closing and cocktail reception.
1 hour
2 hours
The 72-megawatt Krnovo Wind Farm (onshore) is Montenegro’s first wind farm and one of the largest in the region. An exemplary project in terms of its contribution to the regional economy and the application of best practice, Krnovo has been developed by Akuo Energy and built to the highest social and environmental standards set out by the World Bank.
2 hours
14:00
1 hour
Kotor is a finely preserved medieval town in a secluded corner of the visually stunning Bay of Kotor. It is a top attraction of Montenegro and protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1.5 hours
40 minutes
Get the latest event information with market analysis, speaker and agenda information as well as participation options.
The 72-megawatt Krnovo Wind Farm (onshore) is Montenegro’s first wind farm and one of the largest in the region. An exemplary project in terms of its contribution to the regional economy and the application of best practice, Krnovo has been developed by Akuo Energy and built to the highest social and environmental standards set out by the World Bank.
30
COUNTRIES
40
SPEAKERS
3
DAY PROGRAMME
250
ATTENDERS
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