New rule introduced for renewable energy communities — experts explain implementation and benefits

The Community Development Fund (CDF), with the support of the Swedish Embassy in Kosovo, has introduced the Rule for Renewable Energy Communities (BEBR), approved by the Board of the Energy Regulatory Office (ZRrE).

The Rule sets out how citizens, businesses and communities can join together to produce and use energy from renewable sources, including solar panel energy, reports Telegrafi.

CDF Executive Director Nermin Mahmuti said this commitment was realized within the project “Empowering Environmental Civil Society Organizations in Kosovo,” supported by the Swedish Embassy.

According to her, the project started in 2023 and will continue until the end of 2028.

Mahmuti announced that CDF worked closely with the ZRrE in drafting the rule, following the institution’s request for support in preparing the secondary legislation.

“The reason we held this conference today is to clarify and inform the interested community, not only citizens who can create these energy communities, but also the local level or municipalities, which can be part of these renewable energy sources,” Mahmuti stated.

Nermin Mahmuti, Executive Director, CDF

From the Ministry of Economy, Shqipe Gashi said the ministry’s engagement in this process began with a study visit to Austria, where energy community models were seen up close.

“The Ministry’s engagement in this process began with participation in a study visit to Austria, to see energy community models up close, including renewable energy communities, in a state where energy communities were very developed, like Austria,” Gashi said.

Shqipe Gashi, Senior Official for Renewable Energy Sources, Ministry of Economy

Meanwhile, the Director of the Energy Market Department at the ZRrE, Skender Muqolli, said that Kosovo is oriented toward renewable energy and reforms in the energy sector.

“As a state we are oriented toward renewable energy and toward reforms of the energy sector in general. Also, the Albanian energy exchange has been developed and made functional through Kosovo and Albania,” Muqolli stated.

Skender Muqolli, Director of the Energy Market Department, Energy Regulatory Office

Technical and regulatory expert Ilir Shala described the approval of the rule as an important step for Kosovo’s energy sector.

“With the approval of the Rule for Renewable Energy Communities in the Republic of Kosovo by the Energy Regulatory Office, a very important process has been carried out for the energy sector in the Republic of Kosovo, considering that the consumer will move from a passive to an active role, simply by being able to be a member of a community as a consumer,” Shala said.

According to him, through this rule the consumer moves from a passive role to a more active one, since they can also be a member of a renewable energy community.

Ilir Shala, Technical and Regulatory Expert

The Rule aims to create new opportunities for citizens, businesses and communities to engage in the production and use of clean energy, while its implementation is expected to pave the way for the functionalization of renewable energy communities in Kosovo.
/Telegrafi/