On December 26, 2024, it was reported that wind and solar energy have outpaced fossil fuel generation in Europe for the first time. A total of 69 countries worldwide now generate over 50% of their electricity from renewable sources, with seven nations achieving 100% reliance on renewables: Albania, Iceland, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This information comes from a report by RatedPower, a company specializing in renewable energy technology.
Albania's success in harnessing renewable energy is attributed to its natural conditions, particularly its numerous rivers, as well as proactive government policies. The Albanian parliament has enacted a law aimed at facilitating the use of renewable energy resources, especially in the areas of small hydropower plants, solar water heaters, photovoltaic plants, and biomass heating systems.
Legislative changes have enabled the allocation of funds for energy efficiency projects and the development of renewable energy sources within Albanian households and the private sector. Tirana aims to source 54.4% of its total gross energy consumption from renewables by 2030. Currently, electricity generated entirely from renewable sources constitutes 28% of the country's energy mix.
Albania's energy policy also seeks to diversify sources beyond hydropower, given the country's significant potential for solar and wind energy production, favorable geographical location, climatic conditions, and high solar radiation intensity. Hydropower is heavily dependent on climate variations, and the development of hydropower plants has sparked various environmental controversies.
According to a September report from the German Ministry of Economy and Technology, the legal framework governing Albania's energy sector, including the promotion and utilization of renewable energy sources, has undergone significant changes over recent decades, partly due to Tirana's commitments in the context of European Union integration.
Artan Leskoviku from the National Agency of Natural Resources of Albania stated during the December International Energy and Sustainable Development Forum in Bangkok that Tirana places particular emphasis on incorporating wind energy into the Albanian energy mix.