A ministerial decision delivered yesterday by the energy ministry has raised the capacity limit of solar energy projects to take part in upcoming RES auctions to 20 MW from a previous level of 10 MW set by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy.

Prior to this revision, the RAE proposal had offered capacities of between 1 MW and 10 MW for major-scale photovoltaic projects taking part in the RES auctions.

According to sources, this change was made to enable RES auction participation for a number of prospective solar projects with capacities ranging between 10 and 20 MW.

Otherwise, investors of solar energy projects within this capacity range would have needed to wait for combined wind and solar energy RES auctions, where they would have been up against far bigger investors. This combined category will concern projects with capacities exceeding 20 MW.

PPC Renewables is planning a 200-MW solar energy park in the country’s north, in the western Macedonia region. Other major-scale investment plans include one by Juwi, also planning to develop a major-scale solar energy project in the west Macedonia region.

Separate RES auctions for wind, large-scale solar and small-scale solar projects are expected to take place in July.

Officials are striving to stage the combined RES auction for bigger projects within the current year, but, given various preparation difficulties, this auction will most likely be held in the first quarter of 2019.