On the Krnovo plateau near Nikšić, assembly of wind turbines for the state-owned Gvozd wind farm will soon begin. The project, valued at around 82 million euros and financed by a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is expected to provide electricity for approximately 25,000 households.
Gvozd is the first significant energy project in Montenegro since the construction of the Perućica Hydroelectric Plant. Construction started nine months ago, with an equal amount of time remaining to complete the project, which includes vertical infrastructure and access roads. The wind farm is projected to produce about 150 GWh of electricity annually.
Environmental activist Aleksandar Dragićević emphasized the importance of such state-owned renewable energy projects and expressed regret that more planned wind farms in Montenegro are not publicly owned. He highlighted the availability of loans and grants for renewable energy projects that have been underutilized over the past three decades.
Dragićević also mentioned additional planned renewable projects near Nikšić, including solar power plants and a battery storage facility to stabilize energy supply, given the intermittent nature of wind and solar power.
He criticized costly projects like the Komarnica Hydroelectric Plant, suggesting that funds allocated there could instead build multiple wind farms like Gvozd, providing energy for about 100,000 households and ensuring grid stability with storage systems.
While praising Gvozd’s location—where environmental impact assessments meet international standards—Dragićević expressed concerns about two planned large wind farms on the Sinjajevina plateau, citing poor environmental assessments that do not comply with international standards.
Ecologists have previously defended Sinjajevina from military development and intend to oppose inappropriate wind farm projects as well, advocating for the area’s protection as a hub for sustainable rural tourism.
Dragićević stressed that renewable energy development should align with environmental protection, Montenegro’s interests, and international standards. He supports expanding solar and wind power owned by Montenegro’s state electricity company rather than private foreign entities profiting from the country’s energy resources.
