Ersekë plant in Kolonjë combines solar and battery storage
Fortis Energy is building the Ersekë Solar Power Plant in Albania’s Kolonjë region. The project includes 75 MW DC of solar capacity paired with a 25 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). It is expected to generate approximately 135 GWh of electricity annually.
The design decision to include energy storage from the start is central to the project’s configuration. The combination of generation and storage is intended to support how electricity output can be used across different periods. The plant’s scale is described as significant within Albania’s renewable buildout.
Hydropower variability drives imports and shapes market needs
Albania’s electricity system has relied heavily on hydropower for decades, creating a relatively low-carbon power mix. At the same time, low rainfall can expose the system to substantial supply risks. Hydrological variability has repeatedly led Albania to increase electricity imports.
During periods when imports rise, market prices are often elevated. In that context, solar generation combined with battery storage is positioned as a way to diversify the energy portfolio. Projects such as Ersekë are described as reducing dependence on costly imports during supply stress.
Solar output and BESS operation target shifting electricity use
The Ersekë project also points to how solar and storage can operate together within the Albanian power market. Solar generation can reduce daytime electricity imports, aligning output with daytime demand patterns. Battery storage enables part of that generated energy to be shifted to later periods.
The 25 MWh battery capacity is characterized as modest relative to national grid needs. Even so, it is presented as a step toward establishing a reference model for future hybrid renewable projects across Albania. The focus remains on pairing generation with storage rather than deploying solar alone.
Turkish investment presence and policy framework for storage
The Ersekë development reflects the growing role of Turkish renewable energy investors in the Western Balkans. Fortis Energy is expanding into a market where renewable investment opportunities are increasing while domestic financing remains limited. Dependence on hydropower continues to create supply risks in Albania’s power system.
The project context also includes Albania’s strong solar resources and a reform agenda aligned with European energy objectives. Regional electricity market integration is cited as an additional factor relevant to developers operating in the country. For policymakers, further progress depends on establishing an effective regulatory framework for energy storage.
Hybrid renewable projects require rules covering battery operation, grid access, balancing responsibilities, and revenue mechanisms. Without such foundations, storage assets may not capture their full commercial value under existing arrangements. With them, the expectation is that additional investment could be attracted and project bankability improved.
Implications for Albania’s transition beyond a single asset
The Ersekë project is framed as more than an individual renewable investment within Albania’s broader transition direction. It is linked to efforts to strengthen long-term energy security through both generation expansion and storage integration. The same policy environment also involves improving grid infrastructure and strengthening regional electricity trading links.
By adopting a solar-plus-storage approach early, Fortis Energy’s project is positioned as demonstrating how reliance on hydrological conditions could be reduced over time. The development also aligns with building a more diversified and resilient electricity system in Albania.
