The anticipated development of a major renewable energy facility in Ulcinj, specifically the Briska Gora solar power plant, has faced significant delays. Originally scheduled to become operational by the end of 2021, the project remains stalled, with ongoing extensions for land lease agreements and a newly complicated tender process.
Recently, the Government of Montenegro’s Tender Commission canceled the previous decision on the ranking of candidates for the solar power plant, which had been established six years ago. This cancellation resets the entire procedure, further postponing the construction of what is planned to be Europe’s largest solar power plant.
The decision to nullify previous bids was based on technical issues, including incomplete documentation translations. The 2018 ranking had initially favored a consortium comprising the state-owned Electric Company of Montenegro (EPCG), Finnish company Fortum, and Sterling & Wilson International Solar FZCO, with EPCG and Fortum each holding a 49% stake and Sterling & Wilson 2%.
In September 2022, the Administrative Court of Montenegro annulled the previous commission’s decision due to objections from the Montesolar consortium. This led to delays as changes were made to the Spatial Plan of Montenegro before the recent Tender Commission’s decision. Consequently, the large-scale solar project remains a distant goal, despite previous plans to expedite its development.
Environmental activists have voiced concerns about the project’s impact on local biodiversity. Azra Vuković, head of Green Home, criticizes the approach to this project, highlighting the lack of a comprehensive biodiversity assessment. “The construction of the solar power plant on Briska Gora should be reassessed to prevent long-term environmental damage,” Vuković states. The area is noted for its natural and cultural significance, encompassing the Bojana River, Šaška Lake, and Knete. Vuković stresses that proper environmental evaluations are crucial before clearing large areas for solar energy production.
The project, estimated to be worth over €210 million, was managed by Prime Minister Duško Marković’s government until its final days. The Spatial-Urban Plan of Ulcinj was amended in October 2020 to nearly double the area designated for the solar plant, expanding it from 4.7 million to 9.25 million square meters. The plant’s capacity was also increased from 118 MW to 262 MW, with a projected annual output of 450 GWh.
Representatives of the winning consortium had previously claimed that the solar plant would be the largest of its kind in Europe, employing 226 workers and contributing significantly to Montenegro’s climate goals and energy independence.
Despite the grand plans, local authorities in Ulcinj were not consulted during the planning process. However, the project was expected to provide substantial financial benefits to the municipality, including approximately €2 million annually in land rent, a significant amount for a local government with a budget of around €16 million.
Ulcinj had hoped that this project would position it as a hub for renewable energy in Montenegro, leveraging its abundant sunshine, which averages 218 days per year. Ecologist Dželal Hodžić emphasizes that Ulcinj and the surrounding region have the potential to meet their electricity needs almost entirely through solar power, particularly for heating purposes.
Montenegro’s commitment to renewable energy continues, with the recent completion of the Čevo solar plant, which has a capacity of 4.4 MW. The state has issued urban planning and technical conditions for the construction of 30 large-scale green energy projects, mostly solar plants, with a total capacity of 4,000 MW. However, progress on these projects, as evidenced by the Briska Gora delays, has been slow.
