Albanian Power Exchange holds first day-ahead auction
Albania’s Power Exchange (ALPEX) has officially been launched as it held its first day-ahead auction last Monday (11 April). The first delivery of electricity was made the following day (12 April).
ALPEX was established as a joint venture company owned by the transmission system operators of Albania (OST) and Kosovo (KOSTT) in October 2020, operating day-ahead and intraday markets in Albania and Kosovo. The launch of the day-ahead market in Kosovo is expected to follow by September, later this year.
The Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) welcomed the launch of ALPEX and the inauguration of the day-ahead market in Albania. “The development of Albania’s day-ahead market is a significant milestone towards advancing the country’s electricity markets and ensuring a transparent price signal for investments in renewable energy. ALPEX is now expected to launch the intraday market and prepare for market coupling, which is essential for boosting liquidity,” said the ECS via a press release.
The new Electricity Package adopted in the Energy Community in December 2022 sets the legal framework for integrating the Contracting Parties’ electricity wholesale markets into the European internal market. Each Energy Community Contracting Party must designate at least one nominated electricity market operator (NEMO) by 15 June 2023.
The rules for the NEMO designation in Albania were adopted by ERE in 2021, in line with the ECRB recommendation. ALPEX is now one step closer to achieving NEMO status and proceeding with market coupling projects, the ECS said.