Today, Montenegro begins the preparation of a national study to identify locations with high development potential and low environmental and social conflict for the development of solar and wind power plants - Montenegro Energy Growth and Acceleration (MEGA).
The purpose of this document is to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and support the process of decarbonization of the energy sector.
The preparation of the MEGA study is carried out by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Eko-team, in cooperation with the Montenegrin Ministry of Energy, which will also coordinate the study preparation process and provide institutional support.
The joint statement of the three parties states that the national project will apply the internationally recognized "smart siting" methodology, developed by TNC.
"The mentioned approach will enable the identification of areas for the installation of solar and wind power plants, which will not conflict with significant natural, cultural-historical, as well as socio-economic values, or these conflicts will be minimal," the announcement states.
The project represents an upgrade of a pilot study made for the territory of the Municipality of Nikšić, which showed that it is possible to produce enough energy in the area of just one municipality to supply about 200 thousand households in Montenegro, while having a minimal impact on nature and people.
The start of the project was made official today at a meeting of the Advisory Board, with the support of the Ministry of Energy and the Investment Agency of Montenegro.
"This committee is made up of representatives of relevant national, regional and international institutions in the field of energy, spatial planning, environmental protection and finance, who will provide guidance during the duration of the project and enable the potential of the study to be used through the implementation of its results in national policies", the announcement added.
Taking into account that it is recognized as a hotspot of biodiversity, and the ambitious goal of a 50 percent share of energy from renewable sources in the total final energy consumption by 2030, Montenegro must increase solar and wind energy capacities, while preserving natural and social values.
Like similar analyzes conducted by TNC together with partners in other countries in the region, the MEGA study will enable Montenegro to determine areas of accelerated development of renewable energy sources (so-called RAAs), in accordance with the new European Directive on renewable energy sources.
After the transposition of the Energy Community Directive, the obligation to establish RAAs will also apply to Montenegro as its member.
In addition to external experts, experts from relevant state institutions and companies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministries of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property and Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System (CGES) will be engaged in the preparation of the study.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Biljana Ivanović, said that Montenegro is committed to energy and climate goals and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
"The national study will help us to strategically plan and achieve diversified electricity production that is ecologically and economically sustainable, and at the same time it will be one of the mechanisms by which we will achieve the goals until 2050, in terms of our country's participation in achieving climate neutrality." , Ivanovic said.
TNC's program director for Southeast Europe, Igor Vejnović, said that TNC's experience with smart mapping shows that the development of renewable energy sources can go hand in hand with the preservation of nature and the needs of local communities.
"This methodology helps identify areas that support sustainable development and accelerate investment. The potential for the production of electricity from the sun and wind in Montenegro is unquestionable. The approach that we will use in the preparation of the MEGA national study will allow us to determine the potential of renewable energy sources in megawatts as precisely as possible, as well as to identify the most optimal locations where power plants can be built, without infringing anyone's rights," said Vejnović.
He added that he is convinced that this is the right path that can support Montenegro in the demanding process of energy transition.
The executive director of Eko-team, Milija Čabarkapa, said that for this organization, which intensively follows the issues of decarbonization of the electric energy sector in Montenegro, the creation of a national study of mapping low-conflict locations for solar and wind is of particular importance, especially since the entire process will benefit institutional support.
"Given that the process of decarbonization is not only an energy issue, but also a social and ecological one, we believe that through this approach we will have concrete results that will help Montenegro decarbonize its energy sector, while making minimal impacts on nature and people", concluded Čabarkapa.
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