The energy supply in Albania is characterised by frequent electricity shortages and shut-downs. As around 90 per cent of domestic electricity production comes from hydropower plants, Albania’s energy system is very vulnerable to extreme weather events (e.g. droughts in 2002 and 2007 led to significant shortages in electricity supply). The Albania’s National Energy Strategy describes plans to diversify the energy system, by encouraging development of renewable energy generation assets, including biomass. Considering the country’s high energy potential of agricultural residues (e.g. olive oil residues), energy production from biomass – characterised by high efficiencies and low emissions – may soon increase in importance.

The core activity of the project consisted in collecting data and preparing a study analysing the potentiality of biomass as energy source in Albania as evaluating the possibility for the realisation of a small scale pilot plant for the direct combustion of biomass made up of olive mill solid waste. The project also offered a training to professional staff of the Agricultural University of Tirana and Albanian National Agency of Natural Resources in the area of biomass. This involved also a few days visit of the Albanian stakeholders to the experimental Centre of Cadriano, Italy.

The main result of the project was the realisation of a study assessing both the economic and technical feasibility of the realisation of a small scale pilot plant for the direct combustion of biomass made up of olive mill solid waste. The study identified three potential locations for the construction of the plant. Moreover, the project supported strengthening of collaboration between the University of Bologna and the Agricultural University of Tirana and building capacities of the Albanian stakeholders in the field of renewables and biomass. It also helped introducing the subject of biomasses to the didactical programmes of the Albanian University.