The potential of renewable energy sources in Macedonia is vast and thus employees of the Municipality of Kocani prepared a report on Renewable Energy Potential for the town with the help of the company “Centre for Clean Development”, Kiev, Republic of Ukraine and experts from the Institute of Renewable Energy from the Ukraine Academy of Science. In a period of six months, the analyses showed that of all the renewable energy sources in the region, the most cost-effective ones are the use of solar and wind energy.

A number of projects had been considered on the basis of the information gathered from the analyses and, ultimately, priority was given to the installation of PV panels for the illumination of the park "Goceva Suma", a sidewalk for pedestrians on the bay of Kocani’s river - “Kocanska reka” - and for operating some traffic lights for vehicles and pedestrians. Also a wind turbine was installed which is used for the illumination of the Revolution Monument in Kocani. The idea was to reduce the consumption of electricity supplied from the grid.

The decision to start the project was made in 2006, the installation of the project took place between March 2006 and June 2007.

TECHNOLOGY

For the traffic lights for vehicles and pedestrians the following equipment is used:

• 6 units of PV modules 150 W, 12 V each
• one accumulator battery, 230 Ah, 12 V
• one inverter 400 W;
• one charge controller 30 A, 24 V;
• 3 sets of vehicle lights (D=200 mm)
• and 8 sets of pedestrians lights (D=200 mm).

For the illumination of the park "Goceva Suma":

• 4 units of PV modules 75 W, 12 V each
• 4 units of accumulation batteries 38 Ah, 12 V
• 4 units of charge controllers 10 A, 12 V;
• 4 timers
• and 4 units of energy saving lamps, 15 W, 12 V

For the illumination of the sidewalk for pedestrians on the bay of Kocani’s river - “Kocanska reka”:

• 18 units of PV modules 75 W, 12 V each;
• 18 units of accumulation batteries 38 Ah, 12 V;
• 18 units of charge controller 10 A, 12 V;
• 18 timers
• and 18 units of energy saving lamps, 15 W, 12 V each.

The wind turbine for the illumination of the Revolution Monument in Kocani has an
installed capacity of 1.5 kW.
In addition to the organisations which took part in preparing the analyses of potential in Kocani, participants from the Ministry of Environment – Macedonia and the Communal Public Company – Water Supply, Kocani were also involved in the project.

The annual production of electricity amounts to approximately 4 653 kWh.

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ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Private capital together with an application grant were used to cover the costs of the project.

Previously the municipality was consuming 24 132 kWh electricity from the grid for operating the traffic lights and for the illumination of the above mentioned park and sidewalks. Now, as the electricity is produced by PV panels, only 4 653 kWh is used for the same purposes. That means that 24 132 kWh electricity from the grid could be substituted for 4 653 kWh from the PV panels.

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SOCIAL EFFECTS

Local citizens were kept informed from the beginning of the project until the end by local TV stations and newspapers. At the end of the project, citizens could find all the necessary information connected with the project in the municipality’s monthly brochure.

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ENVIROMENTAL EFFECTS

Annually, the emission into the atmosphere of 22.08 tonnes/annum of CO₂ is being avoided.

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DIFFICULTIES, PROBLEMS

No specific difficulties have been stated.

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FOLLOW UP

No plans for follow-up activities have been stated.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

Municipality of Kocani
Goce Serafimov - Junior Assistant for Environmental Protection

Tel: + 389 33 279 554
Mob: + 389 75 492 252
E-mail: serafimov@mol.com.mk
Web: www.kocani.gov.mk

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