- Montenegro has launched a net metering scheme.
- The project is expected to increase the deployment of solar PV.
- Authorities estimate that up to €30 million could be raised in investment for the project.
Montenegro’s state utility company, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), and the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, have initiated a net metering program to aid the deployment of 3,000 residential rooftop PV systems.
Homeowners will be invited to participate in a scheme that could see them getting return on their investment in five to seven years. In addition, selected homeowners will be allowed to sell excess solar energy to the utility. The authorities believe that the scheme will raise up to €30 million in investments and generate about 400 jobs.
This is the European country’s first rooftop PV project. The EPCG is also constructing a 100MW solar park in partnership with Finnish company Fortum and a floating PV power plant on the Slano artificial salt lake.
Montenegro has only 6MW of installed solar power at the end of last year. The majority of the country’s energy needs are met by the 225MW Pljevlja thermal power plant and two large hydropower plants with a cumulative capacity of 670MW.