Strategy for utilisation of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Macedonia by 2020

The global commitment to environmental protection and in particular to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, Macedonian's dependence on energy imports, as well as the need to secure greater variety and thereby reliability of energy supply undoubtedly impose increased share of renewable energy sources in the final energy consumption. however, in parallel with activities and measures targeting increased share of renewable energy sources, measures and activities to increase energy efficiency of final energy consumption should be pursued. thus, the target share of renewable energy sources in final consumption will be achieved much easily and faster, but the economy's competitiveness will also be improved due to reduced energy costs. in preparation to transpose and implement the Eu legislation (acquis communautaire) on renewable energy sources into the national legislation, the main objective of the present strategy is to provide information on the potential and possible exploitation of renewable energy sources (hereinafter: res) in the republic of macedonia. quantification of such knowledge shall be made by determining the following: - target share in total energy (res target), which is share of energy generated from res in the total energy consumption; - target share of electricity (res electricity target), which is share of electricity generated from res in the total electricity consumption; - manner and dynamics of attaining res target and res electricity target by addressing the following issues: - relevant types of res in the republic of macedonia and their availability; - primary and secondary legislation and institutional set-up ; - financial implications from the establishment of mechanisms to support use of res (feed-in tariffs); - environmental aspects, by means of analysis on possible greenhouse gas emission reduction. furthermore, in the light of secondary legislation on res, the present strategy undertakes relevant analyses aimed to determine: - installed capacity per plant required to obtain the status of preferential electricity producer from res, for all res types; 2 - total installed capacity eligible for application of feed -in tariffs to be used for purchase of electricity from res, for all res types; - financing mechanisms for feed-in tariffs. the strategy also considers the possibilities to promote the use of bio fuels for transport in pure and processed form, having in mind the potentials for securing sufficient quantity of biomass of domestic origin and from import. environmental aspects have been addressed mainly by means of res environmental impact assessment by determining total greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in kt co 2 -equivalents) that can be reduced with the use of res. finally, findings from all previous analyses will provide the basis elements of the five-year program on use of res, including pilot-projects, overview of beneficiaries and private sector's participation, particularly the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as public awareness activities. (Executive Summary)