Location: North Macedonia
Duration: March – May 2026
- Invitation to Submit Proposals
Eko-svest invites qualified individual experts and consulting firms to submit technical and financial proposals for the development of a Feasibility Study for establishing an Energy Community in the Municipality of Novaci. This assignment focuses on the transition of degraded mining lands into sustainable renewable energy hubs.
Detailed Terms of Reference for this call is proved in Annex 1.
- Submission Requirements
Interested candidates must submit the following documents:
Technical Proposal:
- Detailed methodology and work plan.
- Profiles/CVs of the proposed expert team (highlighting experience in RE and Energy Communities).
- References from at least 3 similar projects (Feasibility Studies).
Financial Proposal:
- A breakdown of costs (man-days, travel, and direct expenses) in EUR or MKD.
Legal Status:
- Proof of company registration no (for firms) issued within the last 6 months or professional credentials (for individuals)
- Signed declaration (Annex 2).
- Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Experience & Qualifications: 40 points
- Technical Methodology: 30 points
- Financial Competitiveness: 30 points
Maximum number of points: 100
- Administrative Details
- Language: Proposals must be submitted in English or Macedonian.
- Deadline for Submission: February 27, 2026
- Contact for Questions: [email protected]
- Submission Email: [email protected]
Eko-svest will contact the selected bidders no later than 7 days following the expiration of the bid submission period.
Within 3 days of the Decision, Eko-svest will inform all bidders of the outcome of the procedure. Bidders have the right to submit Objections regarding the procedure within 3 calendar days.
A contract will be signed with the candidate who has earned the highest number of points, no later than March 15, 2026.
- Submission of applications
Bids must be submitted no later than February 27, 2026, by 16:00, to the email address [email protected] with the subject line: Application for the Feasibility Study.
Further information can be obtained by phone at +38972726104 or via email at [email protected] no later than February 23, 2026. Questions received from any interested bidder will be answered and distributed to all invited bidders, as well as published on the Eko-svest website under the call announcement. Incomplete bids, or bids submitted after the specified application deadline, will not be taken into consideration.
*Note: In addition to the aforementioned data, the selected bidder will be required to submit supplementary documentation, including:
- A certificate/information from the Central Register regarding any bans on performing business activities and the register of penalties for natural persons;
- Proof of active/registered status of the company;
- Certificate of settlement of liabilities from the tax administration (paid taxes and contributions);
- Certificate of solvency;
- Financial statement for 2025 or 2024;
- Statements of confidentiality and non-existence of conflict of interest signed by the selected candidate (natural person);
- A criminal record certificate for natural persons;
- Curricula Vitae (CVs) of the consultants;
- A list of references/portfolio.*
- Confidentiality
All information related to the evaluation of bids will not be shared with anyone not officially involved in the selection process, even after the selection process has concluded. All data will be treated as confidential and will not be used, collected, or shared for any purposes outside of this call and its specific objective.
Terms of Reference
1. Introduction and Background
Eko-svest (the Client), with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), is implementing a project to analyze the feasibility of establishing citizen energy communities. This includes exploring management models for the repurposing of degraded lands (brownfields) in the Municipality of Novaci, North Macedonia.
This initiative builds upon collaboration between TNC, Eko-svest, and the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU), which mapped optimal locations for solar and wind energy on degraded lands. The former coal mines in Novaci were identified as high-priority sites for transition into renewable energy production.
Currently, two of the three mines in Novaci are state-owned and managed by ESM (Power Plants of North Macedonia). The draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) prioritizes these areas for photovoltaic (PV) development. As the national legal framework for energy communities is currently being finalized, there is a need for a comprehensive Feasibility Study to analyze cooperation models involving citizens, public institutions, private entities, and civil society.
2. Objective
The objective is to produce a Feasibility Study providing a technical, economic, legal, and organizational analysis of models for energy communities and land rehabilitation. The study must assess the readiness of stakeholders (Municipality of Novaci, ESM, citizens) and recommend financial and management structures that ensure a “Just Transition”—ensuring the energy transformation is socially inclusive and provides long-term local benefits.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant/firm shall perform the following:
Data Collection: Analyze existing infrastructure (grid connection, substations, access roads) and energy potential of the Novaci coal mines.
Technical Design: Identify locations for PV systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including potential integration with the REK Bitola thermal power plant infrastructure.
Financial & Comparative Analysis: Develop multi-scenario techno-economic models comparing various ownership structures (e.g., Energy Communities, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), or Public Ownership).
Risk & Benefit Assessment: Analyze the bankability, risk allocation, and profit-sharing constraints of an energy community model versus traditional models.
Legal Framework: Review North Macedonian and EU legislation regarding the registration and operation of energy communities.
Site Rehabilitation: Propose a plan for the secondary use of the site (e.g., educational/demonstration centers) including indicative cost estimates for both land reclamation and energy installation.
Reporting & Presentation: Deliver draft and final versions of the study and present findings to Eko-svest, stakeholders and the local community.
4. Deliverables
D1: Draft Feasibility Study: Including energy potential, initial techno-economic analysis, and preliminary management models.
D2: Final Feasibility Study: A comprehensive document integrating all feedback, final financial recommendations, and a project implementation roadmap.
D3: Presentation & Outreach: Public presentation of findings, including an infographic or brief summary for media and non-technical stakeholders.
5. Qualifications
University degree in Engineering, Economics, Environmental Science, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience in renewable energy project development or analysis.
Demonstrated experience in preparing Feasibility Studies and techno-economic analyses.
Knowledge of North Macedonian and EU energy legislation.
(Preferred) Experience in brownfield rehabilitation or “Just Transition” projects.
6. Supervision and reporting
The expert or company will work under the supervision of the Client.
During the assignment, regular meetings and progress reports will be organized after the completion of each phase (initial analysis, draft version, final version).
The final report should be coordinated and confirmed by the Client before the public presentation.
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