North Macedonia issues first big battery licenses, as 60 MW landmark looms

North Macedonia has issued its first two licenses for battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, with a combined capacity of 2.6 MW. These licenses were issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the Republic of North Macedonia to Energo Solar Systems.

Both BESS projects will be co-located on operational photovoltaic (PV) power plants. 

While comparatively a small starting point, North Macedonia’s ERC president Marko Bislimoski discussed what the first battery licenses meant for the country. 

“The issuance of these licences, which include battery systems for storing electricity, actually marks the beginning of a new investment cycle in the energy sector,” Bislimoski said. 

“The introduction of batteries in practice means an accelerated energy transition by creating a sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly energy system in the country.”

Batteries incoming

Renewable energy in North Macedonia has started to grow in recent years, as the country previously relied on fossil fuels, imports, and hydropower. According to the local state agency, for 2025, renewable penetration is high, with more than half of the country’s installed capacity (55.7%) came from renewables, with solar PV alone (28.4%) overtaking hydropower (24.1%) for the first time. The country has pledged to phase out its coal power plants by 2030.

The 2.6 MW BESS projects are just the start of battery storage in the country with YESS Power, a Turkey-based contractor, planning to commission a 60 MW BESS project in North Macedonia at the end of November 2025. It will be the first large facility of its kind in the Western Balkans.

China-based Cubenergy will provide the energy storage systems while YESS Power will manage all engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning phases. This BESS project will be co-located with the FEC Novaci solar power plant in Novaci, North Macedonia. 

Additional BESS projects include investor proposals for over 4,172 MW / 7,192 MWh of battery storage, including 2,596 MW / 3,094 MWh of standalone batteries – another 402 MW / 1,080 MWh will be co-located with wind farms, and 1,174 MW / 3,018 MWh co-located with PV. These proposals are still being processed and reviewed.