Is Macedonia in need of photovoltaic glass

The potential for solar energy development in North Macedonia is vast. With estimates suggesting that the country could harness up to 11 GW of solar PV capacity, there is significant room for growth.

One of the most compelling benefits of expanding solar energy capacity in North Macedonia is its potential to enhance energy independence. In 2021, approximately 33.2% of North Macedonia's electricity consumption was covered by imports.

By the end of 2022, the country had reached a photovoltaic capacity of approximately 144 MW, with projections indicating rapid growth in the coming years. In 2023 alone, North Macedonia saw an impressive increase in solar capacity, with new installations contributing to a total increase of 251% compared to the previous year.

Like others in the region, North Macedonia must balance its need to rapidly accelerate the transition to renewables to secure its energy future with the need to ensure that future is one where both the country's nature and people thrive.

This means that if only a half of these priority locations were built out, they could produce 7.7 terawatt-hours of electricity per year—which exceeds North Macedonia's current electricity consumption and could even fully cover the estimated electricity consumption in 2030 under the energy efficient scenario of the NECP.

This shift can be largely attributed to increased investments in photovoltaic projects, which have bolstered local electricity production.Currently, North Macedonia imports electricity primarily from neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Greece.