Albania is planning to run a new solar auction, with battery storage included for the first time.

The country’s Minister for Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, confirmed the government is preparing another auction to take place before the end of this year, or in early 2027.

Karakaçi added the auction will be developed in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Albania has held four solar auctions to date. The first, won by India Power Corporation Limited, took place in 2018. The following two were both won by French developer Voltalia, covering a 140 MW project and 100 MW project respectively.

Albania’s most recent solar auction took place in 2024, offering a total 300 MW. A total nine bids were shortlisted, with eight securing contracts covering 283.9 MW of the procured capacity.

The addition of storage into the next solar auction follows changes to the country’s electricity law, which now facilitates the inclusion of battery energy storage systems into renewable energy projects.

The updated law, adopted in June, also allows producers to trade electricity in the free market.

Speaking over the weekend, Karakaçi added that solar power now contributes to around 11% of Albania’s annual electricity production, up from around zero three years ago.

Recent analysis confirmed Albania’s cumulative solar capacity reached 631 MW by the end of 2025.

In July, the Albanian government adopted amendments to its law governing agricultural land to allow agrivoltaics to be developed on specific categories of land. Last month, the country’s energy regulator published a draft law covering the framework for establishing and registering renewable energy communities .

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