This time, the countries revealing their first floating PV plans are Albania and the Ivory Cost. In the first, a 12.9 MW plant is being proposed by local hydropower producer KESH, while in the second, the local government has secured funds for what it claims will be Africa’s first floating PV array.

The Kolkata-based developer will build a 100 MW solar park in the Akërni salt flats, near Vlorë. A 50 MW section of the plant will sell power to the local distributor at €59.9 per MWh over a 15-year period, while the remaining portion will sell electricity at market prices.

The owners of private buildings will be eligible to borrow for measures including solar panels and insulation, with the funds to be distributed by the domestic Union Bank.

Through the auction, the authorities in Tirana aim to build a solar park in the Akërni salt flats, near Vlorë.

The projects will be awarded a feed-in tariff (FIT) contract with a regulated tariff of €100/MWh.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the country’s Ministry of Energy are now seeking consultants for the implementation of the competitive bidding process.

In addition to ten project proposals for solar parks not exceeding 2 MW, the Albanian Ministry of Energy and Industry has also accepted an application for a 5 MW PV facility.

The regulated tariff, which was previously granted only to small and medium hydro- power plants, was extended to PV up to 2 MW and wind projects not exceeding 3 MW in size.

Overall, 11 similar proposals for PV and hydropower projects of up to 2 MW have been filed to date by the Albanian Ministry of Energy and Industry.

Through the auction, which will receive the support of the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (ERBD), the government hopes to install between 30 MW and 50 MW of solar.