The Government of North Macedonia has adopted its National Energy and Climate Plan. It was the first Energy Community Party to produce this document. The government said the National Energy and Climate Plan covers the period from 2021 to 2030 and sets out a pathway to achieve the 2030 target. North Macedonia was the first Energy Community Party to submit its draft NECP to the organization's secretariat. Albania has also submitted a draft, while the remaining Western Balkan countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia have yet to start.

Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Secretariat, congratulated the government for establishing a clear energy transition path through the adoption of the NECP. This reflects the country's commitment to decarbonization and transformation of its economy and energy system to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. The Energy Community Secretariat is committed to helping the country advance a socially acceptable energy transition. He added after a meeting with North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Fatmir Baitich, that the Secretariat will be the leader in advancing a socially acceptable energy transition in North Macedonia. A strong partner, in line with the ambitions of the European Green Deal. Officials from both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation to accelerate a just transition to energy.

Both energy security and low-carbon goals

With regard to decarbonization, the country intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 82% compared to 1992 levels. To achieve this, it plans to facilitate the transition of the energy sector to low-carbon technologies. Key goals include plans to gradually close North Macedonia's only coal-fired power plants TPP Oslomej and TPP Bitola by 2027, as well as accelerating the use of renewable energy for electricity production in conjunction with energy efficiency measures across all sectors. A carbon dioxide tax would accelerate the phase-out of traditional fuels while stimulating renewable energy investment and energy efficiency measures. Under the plan, the country will continue to support renewable energy through feed-in tariffs and auctions.

The share of renewable energy in final energy consumption is targeted at 38%, with the following targets: 66% share in total electricity production, 45% share in total heating and cooling consumption, and final energy consumption in transport share is 10%. Forecasts show that by 2040, consumption of primary and final energy will increase by 38% and 55%, respectively, compared to 2017, due to continued economic growth.

The plan says it aims to pay particular attention to energy efficiency, given the country's limited potential to use lignite and biomass as the main domestic resources currently in use. The NECP envisages a range of policies and measures to reduce energy consumption in buildings, industry and the transport sector and reduce losses on the transmission and distribution grid. The document plans to save 20.8% in final energy consumption and 34.5% in primary energy consumption compared to the business-as-usual scenario.

The country intends to reduce its energy dependence from 60% to 59% by 2030. The plan aims to reduce reliance on energy imports through greater use of renewable energy and improved energy efficiency, while diversifying sources of supply through the use of natural gas primarily in the industrial sector. Predictable measures include increasing the number of prosumers, establishing a guarantee of origin system, and building hydroelectric and gas-fired power plants. North Macedonia plans to create a day-ahead market, merge it with Bulgaria's IBEX, and participate in an initiative to create a regional market. The country intends to diversify supply routes with planned gas interconnections with Greece and interconnections with Kosovo* and Serbia. It will also encourage the installation of solar collectors for hot water, especially for disadvantaged consumers. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

With the introduction of real-time electricity price signals, demand response levels will be improved to encourage consumers to participate in balancing and increase storage capacity. The NECP envisions an annual plan for vulnerable consumers to ensure they are protected from price shocks.Editor/XingWentao