Stories
Success story: North Macedonia’s first energy community takes root in a small village
Community energy is key to action on the climate crisis. It can empower people, boost local economies, and reinvigorate communities. Community-led initiatives play an important role in the transition towards a 100% renewable and just energy future. Success stories of community energy projects can be found all over the world. At REScoop.eu we want to highlight these stories to further accelerate the movement towards a cleaner and democratic system. This month, we explore the first energy community in North Macedonia.
A rural energy community for changing perceptions
In Belica, a small village in North Macedonia filled with forests and surrounded by mountains, a solar installation lies on the rooftop of a community building. The Eco Center for Development was once a ruined school building. It was developed by the Association for Development of the Local Community of Belica (ABCD) through the "Green Commune Belica" project and created the first energy community in the country. This pioneering project has proved that community energy is possible even in small rural communities in North Macedonia, shifting views around citizen-led energy production in the area.
ABCD was founded in 2006, by a group of local residents and other supporters, with the aim of renovating the abandoned ruined old school building and rebuilding the neglected village of Belica. Precisely, in the footsteps of their ancestors who were independent and functioned with solidarity and joined forces. In 1953, a small hydroelectric power plant was built, which was maintained and managed by the local population until 70’s.
Green Commune Belica was created in 2023 with the support of its partner organizations Eco-Svest, Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA). The partners were united by a shared vision on renewable energy, sustainable rural development, and biodiversity protection.
Rade Momiroski, one of the initiators from ABCD in the realisation of the “Green Commune Belica” project, explains the motivation behind the initiative:
“From the very beginning of the idea in 2021, we wanted the system not only to cover electricity consumption, but also to demonstrate a future model for rural energy communities in North Macedonia. At a time when there was still no dedicated legal framework, we invited energy experts and architects to provide their opinions on our plans. We then developed structural and electrical engineering designs required for connection to the grid. After several years of effort and work, the project was finally realized with financial support from the Government of Sweden. A 20 kW solar photovoltaic power plant was installed on the roof of the ABCD building – now serving as the Eco Center for Development.”
Through workshops, public discussions, networking, and practical implementation, the energy community raised awareness about citizen-led renewable energy and inspired interest from neighbouring villages, local organisations, and regional actors. However, Rade Momiroski remembers the initial mixed reactions by the local community. “Some residents were enthusiastic about renewable energy and the possibility of reducing energy costs, while others were skeptical or uncertain about how energy communities function in practice. Over time, awareness increased and residents became more interested in energy affordability, local resilience, and the possibility of generating their own energy.”
A lacking legislation that creates multiple barriers
Besides hesitant residents, ABCD also experienced some other additional challenges during the establishment of the Green Commune Belica project. One of the main barriers was the absence of a fully operational legal and institutional framework for energy communities in North Macedonia. These barriers were overcome by combining existing legal possibilities, learning from European examples, collaborating with legal and energy experts, and working closely with institutions and international partners. The process required continuous experimentation, interpretation of existing regulations, and long administrative procedures, including additional investments in local distribution infrastructure.
According to the association, the legislation should provide clearer procedures for establishing and operating citizen-led energy communities. To name a few, simplified administrative procedures, support mechanisms for vulnerable households, clearer rules for collective self-consumption, and easier and fairer grid access are needed. The new energy law already improves the conditions in that direction, but there are still by-laws to be made. The expected new law on renewable energy sources is in an advanced governmental procedure, having passed through the crucial phases of public consultation and alignment with EU regulations.
In early 2023, the first two requests for grid connection of the solar installation were rejected due to limitations in the local electricity infrastructure and the absence of adequate conditions for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. After successfully signing a prosumer agreement with the electricity distribution operator in June 2023, it then took several additional months to identify an appropriate solar company and complete the installation, delaying the process until November 2023.
Unlocking the full potential of the solar installation
The electricity produced covers the energy needs of ABCD, enabling the facility to remain alive and functional. In the last three years, the community building has hosted multiple activities: workshops, educational programmes for young children, meetings and community celebrations.
Potentially, the solar installation could unlock further societal benefits. The current installed system of 20kW could cover the total electricy costs of at least three to four households or support the basic electricity costs of even more vulnerable households. These households could be supported through small scale solar systems, and the selection process would be based on social and economic criteria. Some of the vulnerable groups considered are: elderly people with low pensions, low income rural households, single parent families, unemployed residents, and households facing energy poverty, especially during winter period.
However, such development would require stronger governance mechanisms and supportive legislation that enables broader citizen participation and a fair distribution of benefits. Currently, the generated surplus is managed through the local association ABCD and reinvested into the maintenance and operational costs of the community facility and partially contributing sustainability in the community Eco Center for Development.
The "Green Commune Belica" project has created a significant milestone for energy democracy in North Macedonia and aims to expand community energy across the country in the future. The project is also part of a Just Transition process in Kichevo - one of most polluted regions of North Macedonia. Kichevo is phasing out 120 MW coal-fired power generation at the REK Oslomej power station (20 km far away from ABCD) and replacing it with clean energy infrastructure.
Momiroski hopes that the project will increase citizen participation, develop transparent and democratic governance structures, and support vulnerable households through renewable energy solutions. Additionally, "Green Commune Belica" seeks to strengthen regional cooperation among rural communities and create replicable community-led energy models for other villages in North Macedonia. They also envision to set up the first national energy community one-stop-shop in the ABCD.
Being a frontrunner in locally produced energy is always a challenge. However, once trust is established and the first benefits become visible, new opportunities emerge for development, cooperation, and a sustainable future for us and the next generations.