A transformation of Serbia’s energy landscape is beginning to take shape, as two of the country’s oldest coal-fired thermal power plants prepare to make way for renewable generation. The sites of TPP Kolubara A and TPP Morava are set to host new solar facilities, marking both a symbolic and practical shift away from coal.
Both plants have been in operation for decades, with Kolubara A dating back to the mid-20th century and Morava following shortly after. After more than half a century of continuous operation, their technical lifespan is approaching its end. Instead of being decommissioned into unused industrial zones, their ash disposal areas are planned to be repurposed for solar power generation.
According to Serbia’s updated energy development program, construction of the solar plants is scheduled for 2027 and 2028, with commissioning expected in 2029. The combined installed capacity of the two projects will exceed 100 MW, while total investment is estimated at around €93 million.
Beyond environmental benefits, the transition reflects a broader strategic shift in Serbia’s energy security model. Unlike fossil fuels, which increasingly depend on imports, solar energy provides a domestically available resource that is less exposed to global price volatility and geopolitical risks. Once operational, these facilities will run without fuel supply chains, strengthening long-term system resilience.
The planned redevelopment of coal sites also represents an early step in Serbia’s broader coal phase-out strategy, formally aligned with national and international targets extending toward 2050 decarbonization goals. This direction is embedded in the country’s integrated energy and climate policy framework adopted in recent years.
Although uncertainties remain regarding the speed and practical execution of full decarbonization, the conversion of former coal infrastructure into renewable generation is widely seen as a tangible milestone. The shift from ash disposal sites to solar fields illustrates the structural direction of Serbia’s energy transition, even as challenges in investment capacity and policy implementation continue to shape its pace.
