Construction of the Bistrica pumped-storage power plant, a one-gigawatt solar power plant, as well as the Petka solar power plant and the Kostolac wind farm, are essential development projects of Elektroprivreda Srbije throughout its energy transition. These investments are accompanied by desulphurization projects in thermal power plants, which will have to be online until the generation goals have been met – said David Žarković, executive director for power portfolio at EPS, at the panel on accelerating the road map of the region’s power industry at the Belgrade Energy Forum.
He explained that the revitalization of the remaining hydropower plants is under preparation, while the Gornja Drina project is being developed with Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske. Žarković emphasized that EPS is considering the possibilities of battery storage and hydrogen use, and that to reach zero emissions by 2050, balancing capacities are necessary. The executive director for Power Portfolio said that in August last year, Serbia conducted successful renewable energy auctions and that the second round of these auctions is being prepared.
– Based on the auctions, contracts for 750 megawatts have already been or will soon be signed. Together with power plants that have feed-in tariffs, this will facilitate the generation of 4.5 terawatt-hours of electricity – Žarković pointed out.