Power company EPS of Serbia intends to establish 500 MW wind farms in collaboration with a strategic partner
Serbia's Renewable Energy Ambitions: Solar, Wind, and Hydrogen
Serbia is making significant strides in renewable energy, with a focus on solar, wind, and hydrogen. The country's energy sector is undergoing a transformation, as evidenced by several ongoing projects and initiatives.
A key development is the 1 GW solar power project, for which a grid connection agreement has been signed with Elektromreža Srbije (EMS). This ambitious project, to be implemented in partnership with Hyundai Engineering and UGT Renewables (UGTR), also includes 200 MW battery energy storage systems (BESS). The preparation of investment and technical documentation for this project is already underway.
The project's main goal is to increase the system's balancing reserve, a strategic move that will ensure a stable energy supply. In fact, the study plans to optimise surplus electricity from intermittent renewable energy sources.
Aleksandar Latinović, Head of Ancillary Services at EPS, noted that the 1 GW solar power project is expected to be online by 2029, and connected to the grid by the same year.
In addition to solar power, Serbia is also investing in wind energy. The Energy Infrastructure Development Plan and Energy Efficiency Measures for the period through 2028 envisage the construction of wind farms with a capacity of up to 500 MW. The companies involved in the planning and realization of these projects include Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and Vetroelektrane Balkana.
EPS is also exploring the possibility of acquiring already developed, construction-ready wind farm projects. One such project is a 500 MW wind farm, for which EPS and the Serbian government have plans to partner with a strategic partner.
Moreover, Serbia is looking at hydrogen as a potential fuel source. A study is being initiated by EPS to analyze the use of hydrogen and heat storage. The study aims to replace fuel oil in coal power plants with hydrogen-based fuel and substitute gas and coal in heat production.
The Bistrica project, a pumped storage hydropower plant, will have the same energy storage capacity as all currently existing BESSs in Europe. It is expected to be operational by 2031 or 2032.
Meanwhile, two solar power plants, Kolubara A (78 MW) and Morava (42 MW), are expected to go to tender next year. The 66 MW Kostolac wind farm is scheduled to begin trial operations next month.
Notably, EPS recently inaugurated Petka, its first solar power plant on a coal tailings dump. This initiative suggests potential for future solar power projects, as EPS owns several thousand hectares of similar tailings and ash dumps.
In conclusion, Serbia is actively pursuing a diverse range of renewable energy projects, demonstrating a commitment to a sustainable energy future. These projects, spanning solar, wind, and hydrogen, are set to transform Serbia's energy landscape and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
