Hydropower plant operator to install 10 MW solar power plant in BiH

Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu, a firm owned by power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), plans to build a solar power plant with a capacity of up to 10 MW.

Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske was earlier granted a concession for the construction of the 73 MW Trebinje solar power plant, so the project under development by its subsidiary that operates hydropower plants on the Vrbas river in Bosnia and Herzegovina may become its second system in the sector.

Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu (HE na Vrbasu) intends to install a solar power plant at the location of Ada polje, downstream from HPP Bočac. The firm conducted an analysis on the solar energy potential for the site. It owns 15 hectares in the area, eKapija reported.

The expected annual production is 8 GWh to 14 GWh

According to the results, the installed capacity of the power plant, depending on the type of solar panels, could be 8 MW to 10 MW, while the expected annual production is between 8 GWh and 14 GWh. The electricity would be delivered to ERS, which owns 65% of the subsidiary.

Of note, the combination of hydro and solar power plants is recognized as a solution for the variability of both energy sources. Power utility Dravske Elektrarne Maribor from Slovenia, part of Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), recently announced the construction of a 30 MW solar power plant near its two hydropower plants.

The production of electricity is expected to start by the end of 2022

Velibor Jarić, acting executive director for production and maintenance at HE na Vrbasu, told eKapija that the study confirmed the economic viability of the proposed design and construction of a solar power plant at Ada polje.

The subsidiary controls HPP Bočac, with a capacity of 110 MW, and HPP Bočac 2, with a capacity of 8.7 MW, which came online in October 2018.

Jarić said HE na Vrbasu considers the project very profitable. The construction of the solar power plant won’t have a negative impact on the environment, and the development of the facility is important as electricity production is low in the said part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he claimed.

The project is in the initial phase and preparations are underway for the design while the start of production is expected by the end of 2022.