Secretariat welcomes new biomass-based cogeneration plant in Gjakova, Kosovo*

On 22 October 2021, a newly built cogeneration plant, based on sustainable biomass from wood waste and vine prunings, started its operations in Gjakova, Kosovo*.

Director Janez Kopač said: “After 40 years of being reliant on expensive imported fossil fuel, the district heating in the western part of Kosovo* is now running on local and sustainable energy sources. This is truly a good example of cooperation between local authorities, the European Union and other donors and the Energy Community Secretariat. It is a model to be replicated in the Western Balkans.”

The construction of the plant was supported by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) with around of EUR 15 million and by the Swiss Economic Cooperation, which invested more than EUR 5 million in the replacement and rehabilitation of the primary heat network, including installation of energy meters in every building. The feasibility project was funded by the European Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat continuously supported the project and advocated its usefulness to different local and international bodies.

The plant’s capacity amounts to 16.5 MWth with two heat only boilers and a combined heat and power steam turbine of 1.1 MWel that is sufficient to meet the demand of up to 50% of the customers located in the municipality of Gjakova.

For more on district heating in the Energy Community, join us tomorrow from 11:00 – 12:30 at this year’s virtual EU Sustainable Energy Week. Our session “Striving for decarbonisation in the Energy Community with renewable district heating” in cooperation with Solar Heat Europe will address governance and investment challenges and regulatory barriers to the uptake of sustainable district heating and provide an overview of financing options. More Information about the session and registration can be found below.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.