Like many countries in the Europe and Eurasia region, the need for infrastructure development in Macedonia provides immediate opportunities to develop the country with a clean energy footprint. As a member of the Energy Community, Macedonia is in the process of developing core legislation in the areas of electricity, gas, environment, competition, renewables, and energy efficiency.
Through the EC-LEDS program, Macedonia and the United States are working to incorporate climate change considerations into national planning efforts. This includes improving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data collection and updating the country’s energy strategy.
Environmental/Economic Data
Top Three GHG Emitting Sectors (2012)
- Energy
- Agriculture
- Waste
Source: World Resources Institute
GDP Average Annual Growth Rate (%)
- 10-year (2006-2015): 3.2% per year
- 5-year (2011-2015): 2.4% per year
Source: World Bank
GHG Emission Growth (%)
- 20-year (1993-2012): 6.0%
- 5-year (2008-2012): -3.4%
Source: World Resources Institute
Forested Area (% of total land area)
Renewable Energy Contribution to Electricity Generation (%)
2014: 23.7%
EC-LEDS Activities
Accomplishments and Progress
Accelerating Renewable Energy Deployment. With support from the U.S. Clean Energy Investment Project, Macedonia is implementing new legislation that streamlines the permitting process and makes it easier to invest in renewable energy in Macedonia. Thanks to the new legislation, renewable energy installations increased tenfold between 2012 and 2015 to over 115 megawatts of new solar, wind, small hydropower, and other renewables. Laying the groundwork for clean energy will help Macedonia curb air pollution, increase energy security, and open new markets for clean energy entrepreneurs. – 2016
Clean Electricity National Roadmap Adopted. With U.S. support, Macedonia, along with seven other eastern European countries, developed and adopted a national roadmap to support a regional regulatory environment that will facilitate competitive retail electricity market development. Together, these retail electricity markets will enable consumers to choose where their energy comes from, including cleaner options. - 2016
Strengthening Energy Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Systems. Macedonia’s Ministry of Economy collaborated with U.S. energy experts to draft a new rulebook on energy balance and energy statistics, defining the legal framework for data collection and dissemination along with the methodology for preparing the annual National Energy Balance. High-quality, consistent data is necessary to inform long-term low emission development planning and enhance compliance with international protocols. – Ongoing
Improving Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes. With U.S. assistance, Macedonia is installing and testing energy management systems in 17 companies, representing a range of industries, including food and beverage, corrugated packing, and industrial gases. The integrated systems track energy consumption during production, helping industrial facilities identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce energy use and associated emissions, and lower production costs. – Ongoing
Energy Legislation Strengthened. With technical input from U.S. experts, Macedonia adopted new bylaws on energy auditing and energy efficiency that address exams for energy auditors and energy appliance technicians, certification for completion of energy auditing training programs, and building energy performance. – 2014
Milestones
Additional Resources
Organizations and Programs
Contacts
If you have any questions about Macedonia's activities through the EC-LEDS program, please contact us.