The total production of electricity in Montenegro last year was 863 gigawatt hours (GWh) higher than consumption, according to data from the report on the realization of the energy balance for last year.
This enabled the export of electricity of over 200 million euros, as shown by Monstat data. The difference was achieved thanks to the increase in production in the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TEP) and the "Piva" and "Perućica" hydropower plants, but also the decrease in consumption in the Aluminum Plant (KAP) and the Ironworks, due to the cessation or reduction of production.
In 2023, 4.043 GWh of electricity was obtained from all sources and producers, of which 2.519,87 GWh or 62 percent came from renewable energy sources (OIE), and 1.523 GWh was produced at the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant. The production was 27,17 percent higher than the total consumption of 3.179 GWh.
"The achieved annual production satisfied the total needs and a surplus of 863,72 GWh was achieved. HE "Perućica" produced 12,93 percent more electricity, HE "Piva" 24,34 percent more than planned, while small HE produced 30,93 percent more than planned. Wind power plants (VE) achieved 5,5 percent less production than planned, and solar power plants 68,96 percent less. TE Pljevlja exceeded the plan by 9,8 percent. The total production was higher by 12,36 percent compared to the plan," the report says.
It is noted that thanks to extremely favorable hydrological conditions and record production in Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, a surplus of electricity was achieved, as well as a high degree of safety of the power system and the reliability of power supply to consumers.
The total losses on the network in 2023 amounted to 474 GWh, which is about 11 GWh or 2,29 percent more than the plan, and at the level of realized losses in 2022.
The coal mine produced 1,86 million tons of coal, of which 1,63 million tons or about 88 percent of the total production was delivered for the needs of the TE. 205.083 tons of coal were exported, or about 11 percent of the total production.
Accelerate solar projects
The authors of the report believe that the successful year 2023 should not mislead energy planners because in 2022 the circumstances were completely different.
"For this reason, the priority must still be the construction of new stable energy sources that will provide security due to bad hydrological conditions that we cannot influence. Also, due to the fact that the biggest electricity deficits are in the summer months, it is necessary to include the use of solar energy on a larger scale as soon as possible through the construction of solar power plants that achieve the greatest effects precisely in the summer months," the report states.
Production from solar power plants last year amounted to 12,6, while the plan was 40 GWh. The reasons are delays in the procurement of panels for the "solar" project, as well as the fact that the private solar power plant was put into operation only in December.
Bonus video:
