North Macedonia to Build Four Solar Plants at Former Coal Mines
SKOPJE, North Macedonia – In a significant step towards decarbonization, North Macedonia is set to transform symbols of its fossil fuel past into hubs of renewable energy. The country plans to construct four new solar power plants on the sites of former coal mines, repurposing land to accelerate its green transition.
The projects will be located at two key sites historically central to the nation’s coal industry. One solar facility will be built at the exhausted Oslomej coal mine near the city of Kičevo, while three additional plants will be developed at locations within the sprawling REK Bitola mining complex, according to official plans.
This initiative is part of a growing global trend of giving former industrial and mining sites a second life as renewable energy generators. A similar project in the United States recently saw the development of a large utility-scale solar farm on a former coal mining site in Maryland, demonstrating the viability of such land-use transformations. Within the Balkans, this strategy is also gaining traction, with solar projects planned for the Banovići and Kreka mines in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For North Macedonia and the wider region, developing domestic clean energy sources is a critical component of national and regional strategy. At a recent meeting, Western Balkan energy ministers highlighted that alternative supply routes and robust regional cooperation are essential for long-term stability. This focus on domestic generation is seen as a key pillar for enhancing the region’s energy independence, a sentiment echoed by the progress seen in energy security across the Balkans.
The move also aligns with a broader European push to fast-track renewable energy deployment. Under revised EU laws, large solar and wind projects in designated areas are expected to receive approval within one year, signaling a supportive regulatory environment for the kind of utility-scale developments North Macedonia is pursuing. By advancing projects like these, individual nations are not only contributing to their own climate goals but also strengthening the entire regional grid, as seen in efforts like the essential grid plan advancements in Montenegro.
By converting its exhausted coal mines into productive solar farms, North Macedonia is making a tangible commitment to phasing out coal and embracing a sustainable energy future.
Sources for North Macedonia solar plants
- Green With Uncertainty in North Macedonia – Transitions
- Competitive Power Ventures holds ribbon cutting ceremony for …
- Western Balkan energy ministers: Alternative supply routes and …
- EU parliament adopts revised renewables law | Latest Market News
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