Montenegro Partners With Abu Dhabi to Build Clean Energy

A small Balkan nation is making a big bet on renewable energy that could power not just its own future, but help its neighbors too.

Montenegro's state utility EPCG has joined forces with Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies based in Abu Dhabi. Together, they'll build solar farms, battery storage systems, and hybrid energy projects throughout the country.

The two partners signed their agreement during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, setting the stage for Montenegro to dramatically expand its clean energy capacity. Right now, the country has just 30 megawatts of solar power installed.

But this partnership aims much bigger. The new projects will help Montenegro meet its own energy needs while also exporting renewable electricity to Italy and other parts of Southeastern Europe through an existing underwater power cable.

Montenegro's Energy Minister Admir Šahmanović says the collaboration will deliver energy security, new jobs, and modernization. "Through investments in renewable sources, Montenegro is taking a step closer to gradually abandoning coal and switching to clean energy, which is the only sustainable solution for the future of generations to come," he said.

This isn't Masdar's first venture in Montenegro. The Abu Dhabi company already invested in the country's largest wind farm back in 2018, a 72-megawatt facility in Krnovo that's been quietly generating clean power for years.

The Ripple Effect

Montenegro's commitment to phase out coal sends a powerful signal across the Balkans, a region that has historically relied heavily on fossil fuels. By proving that small nations can make big clean energy transitions, Montenegro is showing its neighbors that the switch is possible and profitable.

The partnership also demonstrates how international cooperation can accelerate the shift to renewables, combining Abu Dhabi's expertise and investment power with Montenegro's natural resources and strategic location as an energy gateway to Europe.

A country smaller than Connecticut is showing the world that no nation is too small to lead on climate action.