A report from the US think tank Global Energy Monitor (GEM) indicates that Western Balkan countries could produce four times more electricity from solar and wind energy than from gas-fired plants, potentially saving over €9 billion in energy costs and significantly cutting carbon emissions.
The region, comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, has an estimated 23 gigawatts of potential utility-scale solar and wind capacity. If fully realized, these renewable projects could eliminate the need for current and future gas power capacities and prevent the release of 103 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The report highlights Serbia as the leader in the region, with 444 megawatts of current capacity and 10.9 gigawatts of prospective capacity. However, the report notes that only a small fraction of the region’s energy mix currently consists of operating solar and wind projects. To fully capitalize on this potential, the report calls for governments to remove planning barriers and establish supportive legal frameworks for clean energy infrastructure.
Zhanaiym Kozybay, a co-author of the report and researcher at GEM, emphasizes the region’s unique position as it is not yet heavily reliant on gas infrastructure. He asserts that choosing renewables not only aligns with environmental goals but also makes economic sense. However, he stresses that more political will is needed domestically, and that both the EU and the U.S. should support the region’s clean energy initiatives instead of backing expensive and polluting gas projects
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE