Six companies have submitted expressions of interest for the development of Serbia’s planned Đerdap 3 pumped-storage hydropower plant, according to Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedovic. The deadline for submitting applications expired on 25 June, after which the submitted proposals will undergo a qualification review to determine which candidates meet the required criteria.
The minister described HPP Đerdap 3 as Serbia’s largest planned hydropower investment, highlighting its strategic importance for the country’s future electricity system. The project’s feasibility study has already been completed, with development focused on ensuring long-term operational reliability, system flexibility, and energy security.
Pumped-storage hydropower plants are becoming increasingly important as renewable generation expands, providing the ability to store electricity during periods of surplus supply and release it during peak demand hours. For Serbia, Djerdap 3 could become a key flexibility asset, supporting the integration of variable renewable sources such as wind and solar while reducing pressure on the electricity system.
The selection process is being managed by a government working group established under the intergovernmental cooperation agreement between Serbia and the United States. The planned investment is estimated at more than €2.63 billion, making Đerdap 3 one of the largest energy infrastructure projects currently planned in Serbia.
Đedovic also provided an update on another major pumped-storage project, Bistrica hydropower plant, stating that preparatory activities are expected to begin later this year. Construction of the main facilities is planned to start in 2027, further strengthening Serbia’s efforts to expand flexible electricity generation and storage capacity.
The development of Đerdap 3 and Bistrica reflects Serbia’s broader strategy to improve grid stability, renewable-energy integration, and long-term security of electricity supply as the country’s power system undergoes significant transformation.
