Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Wind Country Notes

Albania
Historically wind energy has been used in isolated areas by traditional windmills and for water pumping; however, in recent years attention has turned to utilising the resource for power generation.

The areas of Albania best suited for wind installations have been found to be the mountainous regions of the northeast, the hilly areas of the south and southeast and the coastal strip.

It is considered that by 2020 4% of the country's electricity could be generated by wind power (some 400 GWh/yr). If priority is given to the construction of 20 coastal wind turbines adjacent to water pumping stations, the areas lying beside the Adriatic can be safeguarded from flooding. Pumping stations located in the coastal lowlands take around 30 GWh/yr (some 0.7% of domestic power generation). Studies conducted by the National Agency of Energy have shown that these areas have a sufficient wind resource for them to be considered as suitable sitings for turbines. Average annual wind speed is around 4-6 m/s at a height of 10 m (with an average annual energy density of 150 W/m²).