Serbian state-owned power utility EPS launched a public call for the analysis of the potential usage of the locations for the construction of solar power plants.
According to the technical specification, the aim of the preparation of the study is to create the preconditions for the construction of solar power plants on the facilities and land that EPS has at its disposal. The call is open until 20 December.
EPS emits around 30 million tons of CO2 a year and the high additional costs for the CO2 emission fee, as soon as they are implemented, would have a large negative impact on the operations of EPS. That is why EPS has a vital interest to increase, as much as possible, the participation of renewable sources, and reduce its reliance on coal before the obligation of paying fees for CO2 emission is implemented.
According to the Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia, the number of sunshine hours in the country is between 1,500 and 2,200 per year, which puts Serbia among the countries with favorable conditions for the usage of solar energy.
As the construction of solar power plants requires space for the installation of panels, and EPS owns locations and facilities in the territory of the whole Serbia, potential facilities and locations suitable for the construction of solar power plants need to be identified. EPS has large areas of open-pit mines and landfills suitable for the implementation of renewable energy projects due to the availability of the necessary infrastructure and a part of the mechanization and expertise and the availability of the existing, trained work force. However, other potential locations, which are not owned by EPS, should also be analyzed and that the possibility of the construction of solar power plants through usage agreements should be looked into.
EPS currently operates one small-scale solar power plant – 330 kW plant, launched in 2017 within HPP Bajina Basta complex. The company is planning to build 9.95 MW Patka solar power plant at the Cirikovac open-pit mine near Kostolac, as well as 100 MW solar power plant on the ash and slag disposal sites for TPP Kostolac. Also, earlier this year, EPS launched tenders for the preparation of documentation for solar project at the ash disposal sites of TPP Morava and TPP Kolubara.
