Vau I Dejës - Where solar meets water
This case study explores the innovative efforts of pioneering a floating photovoltaic system on the reservoir of the Vau i Dejës hydropower plant - the first in the Western Balkans.
About
Challenges:
The project in Albania is designed to address several key challenges:
- Albania’s energy production is heavily reliant on hydropower, which accounts for around 99.6% of the country’s domestic electricity generation. This dependence makes the country vulnerable to climate-induced risks, such as variability in rainfall and seasonal water levels. During periods of drought or low hydropower output, Albania often needs to import electricity, which can be costly and impact energy security.
- Traditional solar farms require significant land space, which can be scarce and compete with other land uses. Albania is currently working on a legislation to define the classes of agricultural land where solar power plants would be allowed to be set up while continuing food production in parallel.
- While hydropower is a renewable energy source, it can have significant environmental impacts, particularly on aquatic ecosystems.
Solutions
The project aims to contribute to the following:
By integrating solar power with existing hydropower infrastructure, the project aims to diversify the energy mix and reduce the risks associated with hydropower’s seasonality, thus ensuring grid stability. The project also aims to enhance the economic resilience of Albania’s energy sector by reducing its dependence on imported energy.
By utilizing the surface of the Vau i Dejës hydropower reservoir, the project avoids the need for additional land, thereby maximizing land use efficiency. This floating solar technology represents an innovative solution in regions where land availability is a constraint.
The project is the first of its kind in Albania and the Western Balkans, showcasing the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems. It also demonstrates the application of “pure floats” technology, which could serve as a model for similar projects across the region, where suitable hydropower reservoirs can be identified.
Impacts
- The project envisages the installation of a 12.9 MW facility at a reservoir of one of the largest hydropower plants in Albania.
- This initiative marks the region’s inaugural use of medium-sized pure floats technology, positioning Albania at the forefront of renewable energy innovation in the Western Balkans.