Power to the people
The energy situation in Kosovo is complicated, and its future is murky, but one thing is clear: Reliable electricity is key to our development.
|2018.01.29
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Most of the demand for energy resources comes in the winter, when potential alternatives to lignite such as hydroelectric, wind and solar may be less reliable.
Renewables need a backup so that when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun isn’t shining, there is still power.
When the 1,000-MW line between Albania or Montenegro and Italy is finished, there will be a direct line from the Balkans to the European transmission system, known as ENTSO-E, and therefore to European demand.
Until residents understand energy costs and how their behavior and use of appliances affect bills and consumption, there is little that can be done to decrease the amount of energy used annually.
Increased forest harvesting would likely lead to more soil erosion, and the Institute of Spatial Planning has reported that 50 percent of Kosovo’s land is already facing the highest erosion rates measured.
The Human Dimension
Alicia English
Alicia English’s research focuses on data-driven analysis for sustainable and holistic energy development. her efforts are focused on household consumption, energy efficiency, cost-effective investment and bio-energy production. She received her PH.D. from Purdue University and has been in Kosovo for two years, where she directs the Energy Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Center (ENRA-rc).
This story was originally written in English.