North Macedonia is preparing a combined battery-storage and grid-digitalisation investment of around €119 million. The package is designed to support system operation as the country moves away from reliance on coal generation. The financing and project structures are still under review rather than financially closed.
Bitola standalone battery and associated control systems
The larger component involves a proposed 100 MW/400 MWh standalone battery at Bitola. Total project cost is estimated at about €98 million. The scope also includes SCADA, trading, generation-planning and cybersecurity systems.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering lending up to €33.1 million for the Bitola battery project. EBRD financing would be in addition to other elements of the overall package, which remain subject to review. No financial close has been reported for the battery component.
MEPSO transmission upgrades for SCADA/EMS and grid equipment
A separate programme for transmission system operator MEPSO would introduce a new central SCADA/EMS platform. The programme also covers cybersecurity systems and a 400 kV transformer. It is budgeted at €21 million.
The MEPSO programme is expected to receive around €18.6 million of EBRD financing and a €2.4 million grant from WBIF. Like the battery proposal, the transmission upgrade remains under review rather than financially closed.
System flexibility needs as renewables expand
North Macedonia’s power system remains heavily influenced by lignite generation, particularly around Bitola. Shifting from coal to wind and solar changes operating requirements because thermal plants provide dispatchable output and system stability, while wind and solar do not. A 400 MWh battery can support balancing by shifting renewable electricity across hours and providing fast-response services.
The grid-digitalisation programme is linked to those operational needs through forecasting, monitoring and dispatch capabilities for flexible assets. Storage value depends on a system able to forecast generation, monitor flows and dispatch flexibility efficiently. New SCADA and EMS infrastructure therefore forms part of the same investment case.
Štip wind phase adds variable generation to the pipeline
The projects are being developed alongside North Macedonia’s expansion of renewable generation. The country recently secured financing for the first phase of the large Štip wind development, adding another major variable-generation asset. That development increases the importance of storage and grid control for maintaining operational requirements.
The Bitola battery is positioned at a site historically associated with coal, with the aim of turning it into a flexibility hub within the wider system. If completed, it would support grid reliability while increasing renewable penetration and reducing reliance on imported electricity during tight periods. The next phase of the energy transition will be measured by how quickly flexibility replaces services currently provided by coal plants.
