/19th December 2013, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCHTM/ In Albania, solar power is widely available, but the photovoltaic market in the country is not yet developed. Most of all, Albania’s electricity is renewable and comes from hydropower. The only program incentivizing solar energy was intended for solar thermal generation.
In Albania, solar power is widely available, but the photovoltaic market in the country is not yet developed. Most of all, Albania’s electricity is renewable and comes from hydropower. The only program incentivizing solar energy was intended for solar thermal generation. A program to install solar water heating intended to use $2.75 million to install 75,000 m² of solar panels. By the end of 2010, a total of 52,000 m² had been installed, with an additional 50,000 m² expected by 2015.
Albania belongs to the sub-tropical belt and the Mediterranean climatic zone. The country has a hot, dry summer and a relatively short and mild winter. Due to its climate, the high intensity of solar radiation and its relatively long duration, Albania has favourable conditions for solar energy development. Albania’s solar radiation is calculated to more than 1,500 kWh/m2/yr.
Albania’s average daily solar radiation is about 4.1kWh/m2, reaching more than 4.6kWh/m2 in the southwestern part of the country. The country has about 2,400 hours duration of sunshine per year, 2,500 hours in the western part and a record of about 2,850 hours in certain locations. Solar energy is being increasingly used for heating purposes, while photovoltaic energy is still unexplored.
The new renewable energy law passed in Albania in July 2013 pays specific attention to requirements for promoting solar energy in the country. The new law covers solar energy and will help promote the use of technologies and innovations for generating electricity from renewable energy sources in general. Many have contributed to the new law on renewable energy, representing the culmination of over four years of hard work – including UNDP.
More information about Albanian solar PV market you may read here: Western Balkans Photovoltaic (Solar PV) Market: Outlook 2013÷2018
