French renewables developer Voltalia opened a new office in Tirana, with the aim of supporting the company’s further growth in Albania. The company entered the Albanian market in 2018 as a provider of turnkey solar plant construction services for third-party customers. It later entered Albania’s solar auctions and secured several solar and projects.
In August 2020, the Government signed a contract for the construction, operation and maintenance of 140 MW solar power plant in Karavasta with Voltalia, winner of a tender launched in January same year. The company is obliged to sell half the electricity produced at the solar power plant to Albanian electricity distribution company OSHEE at the price of 24.89 euros/MWh for a period of 15 years, less than half the price ceiling of 55 euros, while the remaining half will be sold in the market. The concession agreement is valid for 30 years.
The construction of the plant was launched in summer 2022 and it should be commissioned in the second half of 2023.