Wind Europe MNE has started environmental permitting for the proposed 92.4 MW Njegovudja wind farm near Zabljak, adding another project to Montenegro’s northern renewable-energy pipeline. The company has requested a screening decision from the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether a full environmental impact assessment is required. The application points to environmental and spatial-planning requirements tied to the project’s scale, mountainous location and associated transmission infrastructure.
Environmental screening and potential impact assessment scope
The screening decision will determine whether the project must proceed to a full environmental impact assessment. The request is linked to development elements that include both generation and grid connection works. Given the site setting and the transmission component, environmental and spatial-planning considerations are expected to be central in the permitting process.
Project design: turbines, grid connection and controls
Njegovudja would consist of 14 turbines rated at 6.6 MW each. The scope includes internal roads and cables, a project substation, and a new 110 kV transmission line connecting the wind farm to Montenegro’s transmission network. Once operational, turbine control would be handled through a SCADA platform for remote dispatch, real-time production data, weather monitoring and fault detection.
The expected operating life is 25-30 years, after which the site could be repowered or decommissioned and restored. The development also includes infrastructure intended to support construction and ongoing operations at the high-altitude location.
Cost envelope, output estimates and revenue assumptions
An indicative capital envelope for a high-altitude Montenegrin wind project of this size is approximately €125-155 million, equivalent to €1.35-1.68 million per MW. The upper end of the range reflects mountain access, winter construction constraints, heavy-component transport, foundation requirements and the cost of the 110 kV connection.
Annual operating expenditure could reach €3.5-5 million. With an estimated net capacity factor of 32-38%, the project could generate approximately 259-308 GWh annually. Gross electricity revenue is estimated at around €18-28 million per year based on achieved prices of €70-90/MWh, before balancing, curtailment, grid fees and financing costs.
Financing sensitivity and connection schedule risk
A base financing case could support an equity return in the region of 8-10%. An upside case combining stronger wind performance, a bankable power-purchase agreement and controlled connection costs could move towards 11-13%. These figures are described as indicative development assumptions rather than disclosed project economics.
The principal financial risk is the connection schedule. A 12-18 month grid delay could reduce equity returns by approximately 1.5-3 percentage points, depending on debt drawdown, turbine-storage costs and whether fixed delivery dates have already been committed. Delay can also expose the developer to changes in turbine pricing and construction availability.
Siting considerations near Zabljak
The project’s location near Zabljak raises questions including landscape impact, bird and bat migration, winter access, tourism and cumulative effects with other wind developments. Strong wind resources alone are not described as sufficient to make Njegovudja bankable; resolving environmental acceptance, transport logistics and firm transmission capacity before main equipment contracts are committed is identified as a key requirement.
