New $24M Substation Inaugurated in Skopje, North Macedonia
EVN Macedonia has put into operation a new substation in Skopje, in a $24 million (EUR 22 million) investment. According to the company, this is “the first such asset built in the city center in over 40 years.”
The Centralna substation is unique for its compact architecture and advanced technological equipment, built on “an area ten times smaller than for standard 120 MW facilities,” EVN added. It includes a 110 kV GIS installation (gas-insulated switchgear)—the latest technology in this segment.
“The facility is equipped with state‑of‑the‑art systems for remote control, cable monitoring, fire protection, and advanced electronic control and protection devices. For the first time in Macedonia, 110 kV cables are being used to power such a facility,” the distribution system operator (DSO) explained.
EVN Macedonia CEO Wolfgang Maier said the investment “represents an important step toward modernizing and stabilizing the grid in the city’s urban core.” He also highlighted that it is “the first energy infrastructure asset of its kind built in Skopje and even in the broader region.”
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski noted that the investment, which “improves system stability and strengthens the country’s energy outlook,” will significantly increase the capacity to accept new investments. Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska stated, “Existing substations are outdated and have long exceeded their capacity, so Centralna isn’t just a new facility, but a key solution that provides security to citizens and conditions for further urban development.”
More than 30 companies participated in the project, including leading energy equipment manufacturers such as GE, Siemens, Končar, Astor, Dalekovod Zagreb, Adra, Benning PSAM, BMG, and others. This year, EVN Macedonia celebrates 20 years on the Macedonian energy market, with the substation representing “the crown of all investments over the past two decades, which together amount to more than $880 million (EUR 800 million).”
Source: balkangreenenergynews.com
