The countries of the Western Balkans have enough potential wind and solar energy capacity to avoid gas projects in their energy transition, according to a study by the American non-governmental organization Global Energy Monitor (GEM), reported France Press.
Countries in this region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) still rely heavily on coal-fired power generation but have committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
While wind and solar currently account for just 7% (1.5 GW) of their energy mix, according to the GEM study, their potential is 23 GW, which is slightly more than the existing capacity (about 21 GW for the six countries as a whole).
The organization suggests that the governments of the countries of the region accelerate these projects and abandon the projects to build gas-fired power plants.
The implementation of the wind and solar energy projects envisaged by each country would make it possible to produce "four times more electricity than future gas-fired power plants".
At the same time, this would save "billions of euros and prevent significant carbon emissions".
Serbia has the greatest potential, with 47% of the capacity planned for the entire region.
Serbia is also currently the largest gas consumer in the region, importing 90% of its needs from Russia, according to the study.
Along with North Macedonia, Serbia is the only other of the six countries in the region that uses gas to generate electricity.
But Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia plan to build gas-fired power plants and related infrastructure worth a total of €3.5 billion.
The study condemns the "interests" of the European Union and the United States, which "lobby" and "support dependence on fossil gas" in the region.
"More political will is needed at the local level, and the EU and the US should protect the region's clean energy potential instead of supporting expensive and polluting gas," said Zhanaim Kozibai, co-author of the study and researcher at GEM. | BGNES
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