The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is interested in providing financial support for the construction of solar power plant Trebinje 1, the first photovoltaic facility to be built by the Republic of Srpska’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS).

The Trebinje 1 solar power plant, with an installed capacity of 73 MW and a projected annual output of 108.7 GWh, is part of ERS’s ten-year plan to develop a total of 1 GW of renewable capacity. Last year ERS was granted a 50-year concession to build and operate Trebinje 1, whose construction is expected to cost about EUR 52 million.

The EBRD would be very happy to provide financial support to this project, said Manuela Naessl, head of the EBRD’s office in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), following talks with ERS General Manager Luka Petrović.

The talks also covered investment in the transmission system

Naessl said that the discussions also covered several renewable projects developed by ERS, with the focus on solar, as well as investment in the transmission system, according to a press release from ERS.

According to her, it is important to enable the grid to offtake electricity produced from renewable sources. The EBRD has provided lending before and will continue to do so, because it is very important to reduce distribution network losses, she said.

The EBRD also wants to back private investors interested in projects in BiH

Naessl noted that it is essential to have a solid regulatory framework in the field of renewable energy, adding that the EBRD also intends to support private investors who are interested in projects in BiH and who need a transparent framework to do business.