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• |Montenegro
• |Energy Sources

Electricity

Structure of Power Sector

Structure of Generation

EPCG's internal generation comes from three main power plants. The total generation in power plants (excluding electricity produced for the use of the plants) was 3185,7 GWh, in 2004.

[ Elektroprivreda Crne Gore, International Energy Agency ]

The distribution of generation by plants:

• Coal-Fired Thermal power plant "Pljevlja" produced approximately 1,1 TWh
• Hydro Power plant "Perucica" produced approximately 0,7 TWh
• Hydro Power plant "Piva" produced approximately 0,4 TWh
• Various Small hydro power plants produced less than 0,02 TWh

The electricity system of Montenegro largely retains the interconnections that existed prior to the break-up of Yugoslavia. As in Serbia, low electricity prices in many sectors, particularly the domestic sector, have encouraged consumption in Montenegro. Demand for electricity has grown steadily from domestic customers and Montenegro is now dependent upon imported power for base load energy. However, this situation is partially covered by the use of the Piva hydro station. This station was developed to take advantage of the hydro-electricity potential in the Montenegrin mountains and the large thermal power stations in Serbia. Following the separation of the electricity utilities a "swap" agreement was reached between Montenegro and Serbia, whereby Montenegrin peaking power from Piva is exchanged for base load thermal power from Serbia. The exchange terms are 1.415 units of base load power for peaking power.

There are further generation plants in Montenegro:

• the Pljevlja lignite station
• the Perucica hydro station
• and other small hydro stations

The long term future of the Pljevlja station is in doubt as the cost of lignite from the adjacent mine hardly allows the station to recover its operating costs through tariffs, and it is expected that the cost of coal production will increase as deeper reserves are mined.

In terms of power system operation, many of the failures experienced in recent years have been blamed on a combination of inadequate maintenance or inadequate investment. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is presently investing in new assets for Elektroprivreda Crna Gora (EPCG), the incumbent vertically integrated monopoly utility. Together with other donor-funded projects to improve maintenance techniques and system planning capabilities, these investments are expected to bring a recovery to system performance standards.

Electricity Balance 2008

Electricity grid

Montenegrin transmission system consists of about 250 km of power lines on 400 kV level, 370 km on 220 kV, more than 600 km on 110 kV voltage level, and is connected with surrounding systems through nine interconnecting lines.

Residential Electricity Consumption

Nearly all Montenegrin households (<99 %) are electrified and metered. Based on the latest available data, average monthly electricity consumption in Montenegro in 2001 was 367 kWh per household. The difference between Podgorica's average consumption of 407 kWh and Bijelo Polje's of 231 kWh is quite noticeable with Herceg Novi's average consumption being very close to the average. It is also worth mentioning that the main driver of a rather high average consumption in Montenegro is a year round high consumption in the capital.

Residential Electricity Consumption

Nearly all Montenegrin households (<99 %) are electrified and metered. Based on the latest available data, average monthly electricity consumption in Montenegro in 2001 was 367 kWh per household. The difference between Podgorica's average consumption of 407 kWh and Bijelo Polje's of 231 kWh is quite noticeable with Herceg Novi's average consumption being very close to the average. It is also worth mentioning that the main driver of a rather high average consumption in Montenegro is a year round high consumption in the capital.

Table: Average Electricity Consumption in Montenegro, by region, 2003

Heat

Montenegro does not have a district heating system. It was deemed to be unnecessary to invest in such a major project given Montenegro's mild winters. Instead, most homes are heated through an electric radiator system, an electric thermal accumulator or an individual heating system. Wood is one of the most popular heating sources in Montenegro. The table below lists the heating methods used in Montenegro and the corresponding percentages:

Table: Heating Fuels in Montenegro, 2003

There are significant regional variations in fuel use for heating. 36.4 % of households who use electricity for heating live in the South of Montenegro, 56.1 % in the Central part, and only 7.5 % in the North. This is partly determined by the warm winters in the South and the relative abundance of wood in the North. It is also influenced by the characteristics of the type of housing. For example, wood burning stoves are difficult to use in apartments without chimneys. This type of housing is more common in Podgorica than in the other parts of Montenegro.

The relative affluence of households also has a bearing on their choice of fuels for heating. Only 36.4 % used electricity where the head of household earned up to 125 €/month. In contrast, in households where the head of household earned over 275 €/month, 77.8 % used electricity to heat their homes. In addition, over 70.5 % of low-income households use wood, while 46.7 % of high-income households use wood for heating (June 2002, p.16-18). A perception of fuel use for heating in Montenegro is examined below.

Montenegro: Perceptions of Fuel Use for Heating 20 % of households do not use wood because they are unable to do so, 13.1 % due to its price and their bad financial situation, and 19.3 % of respondents do not use wood since their conditions do not support an alternative.

• 28.8 % of households do not use electricity due to its high price, 6.8 % think that wood is cheaper, and 16.9 % are unable to do so. Additionally, few households report that they do not use electricity for heating because they own their own forest.
• 47.7 % of households do not use coal because it is expensive, 7.2 % think that their conditions do not support the use of coal, 1.8 % think that there is not enough coal, and 8.8 % specify that they are unable to use coal.
• 5.6 % of respondents do not use a gas ring because they think that it can be dangerous, 13 % think that the price is high, 22.2 % are unable to do so, and 11.1 % state that their conditions do not support the use of a gas ring.

7.1 % do not use gas because they think it is expensive, 4.8 % of respondents are unable to use gas, and 2.7 % state that their conditions do not support the use of this method of heating.

[ IPA ]

Renewable Energy

Solar Energy

Montenegro has remarkable solar energy potential. Direct solar irradiation is 1.500 to 2.500 hours annually, e.g. 17-18 % of total annual time.

It is particularly present at seaside re (towns of Bar and Ulcinj) with average energy of 4.45 KWh/m2.

The most frequent application is in hotels, and total solar installations count up to 11000 m2 with installed power of approximately 5.500 kW. It covers about 5 % of needs.

Geothermal Energy

On the territory of capital Podgorica, there is potential of researched under ground waters with a constant temperature of 12-14 oC, which could be used for cooling during Summer months.

Biomass

Forest land covers 42 % of the territory, i.e. 6.750 km2.

The most frequent use is the one of wood, especially for household heating (150.000 – 220.000 m3 P/A) and partially in the public and commercial sector.

Except for traditional purposes, other use of biomass has not been established yet.

Hydro-Power Energy

Aside from hydro power systems with high power parameters, there is a considerable hydropower potential of small hydro power plants (SHPP).

Overall technical hydropower potential of the small hydro power plants (small HPPs) in the Republic of Montenegro (without the rivers of the Tara, the Cehotina and the Ibar) is calculated to approximately 800 -1000 GWh/year. According to studies the potential is assessed within the range of 231 MW and 644 GWh/year, in 70 locations.

Based on the signature of the Energy Community Treaty for South Eastern Europe (ECSEE Treaty), the Republic of Montenegro has accepted, among other matters, to implement the Acquis Communautaire in the field of energy, ecology, competition and development of renewables.

It is assessed that the share of all renewables (not only small HPPs) in 2010/2015 can be achieved in the range of 3-5 % out of the total energy needs. It is calculated that the small HPPs generation can reach the share in the national electric power balance of approximately 2.5 % in 2015.

A realistic scope of new small HPPs until 2010/2015: According to Reference scenario, in the period until 2010, it is predicted to construct certain number of small HPPs with total installed power of 5 MW, as well as to construct additional 15 MW in the appropriate number of sites in the period until 2015. It means, in the period over these 10 years, it is predicted to increase installed capacities and production in small HPPs by three times in comparison with the status existing at the end of 2005.

[ Strategy for the development of small hydro power plants ]

Wind

• Research on this topic is still in progress, but there are considerable potentials, due to the combination of mountainous and Mediterranean terrains. This particularly relies to Niksic region, where measurements have been performed in 2002. The results show the average wind power of 225 W/m2 in March 2002.
• By the end of 2001, Netherlands approved donation for wind generator construction, capacity 500 kW on the location Ilino Brdo.