Regulatory Solutions for Renewable Energy in the Western Balkans

chevron_left Back to Western Balkan Power Sector Start Page

This project component focuses on capacity development (workshops, trainings, process efficiency) among ministries and regulators and, to a lesser extent, grid operators. It seeks to facilitate the creation of a favourable regulatory environment for the transition to renewable energy.

Outputs: Options to improve the regulatory framework for RE

• Facilitating regional exchange between regulators and ministries responsible for energy on good practices for efficient permitting, administration and data management processes for RE deployment and operation.
• Joint trainings of regulators, energy ministries, and grid operators in the Western Balkans on options for designing grid stability criteria, grid codes, and implementation rules for mass PV deployment at the distribution grid level by prosumers and energy communities.
• Providing technical advisory to regulators, ministries responsible for energy, and grid operators in the Western Balkan countries on technical and regulatory options for grid code enforcement.
• Promoting exchanges between regulators, energy ministries, RE plant and grid operators on adequate sharing of grid connection, reinforcement and balancing costs for RE plants.

Objectives

A total of four options to improve the regulatory framework for RE were analysed by energy ministries, regulators and grid operators from 4 Western Balkan countries in regional exchanges.

Main Activities

• Technological innovations and good practices to deal with increasing proportions of RE (ex. generation forecasts, digitalization and flexibility options, dispatching, grid analysis/network expansion planning)
• Developing viable business models for dealing with prosumers, handling of a large number of grid connections and further training on the implications of electromobility
• Awareness raising/informational space by expert communities on RE expansion planning and land use planning as well as options to re-use grid infrastructure/former fossil-based plants (power stations, coal mines etc.)

Expected Impacts

• Key actors in the electricity sector are familiar with solutions for the grid integration of high proportions of renewable energy
• Key actors in the electricity sector are familiar with options to shape conducive framework conditions for the transition to renewable energies in the Western Balkans.