Power utility EPHZHB wants to acquire wind farms, solar power plants, hydropower plants

Power utility Elektroprivreda Hrvatske Zajednice Herceg Bosne (EPHZHB) has issued a public call for the purchase of wind farms, solar power plants and hydropower plants with a capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) or more which are in development or already in operation.

Elektroprivreda HZHB is exploring the possibility of integrating already finished or highly developed renewable energy projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina into its portfolio, the public call reads.

The company is one of the few in the region that produces only green energy, in hydropower plants and wind farms, and it also built the first wind power plant in BiH – Mesihovina.

EPHZHB is the third power company in the region to issue a public call for acquiring renewable energy projects, after a similar step was made by Croatia’s Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP) and BiH’s Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH). The three energy companies are using the model to accelerate their energy transition by increasing the share of green energy in the portfolio.

Similar public calls were issued by two other companies in the region – HEP and EPBiH

When selecting solar power projects, EPHZHB will give priority to projects with more sunlight hours, better micro-location conditions and spatial planning documentation ready for project development. The minimum condition for considering the offer is to have a location permit.

Priority in the selection of wind power plants will be given to projects that have a building permit and secured locations. Existing power plants are eligible if they have more than 2,500 operating hours per year. A location permit is also a necessary condition.

Hydropower plants will be considered if they have a capacity of at least 1 MW.

Individuals and legal entities can send bids until December 31, according to the public call.

HEP is purchasing projects with an installed capacity of 60 MW

HEP published the first public call for takeover of renewable energy projects in February 2019, and the second in July 2020. Both public calls differed from the one published by EPBIH in November 2020 and the one published now by EPHZHB. In addition to partners – individuals and legal entities, who are ready to sell projects, the Croatian company was also looking for local municipalities to jointly develop solar power plants.

EPBiH ended its public call on the last day of last year. A few days ago Admir Andelija, EPBiH general manager said it is negotiating with owners of as many as 15 renewable power plants to buy the facilities.

On the other hand, HEP announced that it has already agreed with 11 contracts with the municipalities for the construction of solar power plants with a capacity of 120 MW, and is also purchasing 60 MW projects in development.