Slovenia’s GEN-I is launching construction on its first large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plant, after gaining rights to develop 17 MW of capacity on state owned land in North Macedonia. The project marks the company’s expansion into renewable energy generation.

GEN-I Skopje, the local subsidiary of Slovenia’s GEN-I, won 17 MW out of a total of 35 MW on offer in North Macedonia’s bidding process, the largest capacity awarded to a single investor. The bidding for solar projects on state land, launched in mid-2019, attracted strong interest, with over 80 prospective investors submitting offers, according to previous reports. The ceiling for the feed-in premium was set at EUR 15 per MWh.

Under a new model of public bidding for renewable energy sources, North Macedonia is granting investors rights to build and produce solar energy for 50 years.

The solar power plant should be fully operational by early 2023.

GEN-I’s future solar power plant, which will be located in the village of Amzabegovo in the Sveti Nikole municipality, is expected to be fully operational by early 2023. The facility is planned to generate 25 GWh a year and supply electricity to both North Macedonia and regional markets.

GEN-I has built over 1,000 PV systems for prosumers in Slovenia.

In Slovenia, GEN-I, whose core business is electricity and natural gas trading and supply, has built more than 1,000 household PV systems for self-consumption under its GEN-I Sonce brand.