Elektroprivreda Srbije commissions EUR 9.5 million substation on Mt. Kopaonik

Public power company Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) has put into operation a state-of-the-art 110/35/10 kV substation on Mt. Kopaonik, in a project worth EUR 9.5 million, implemented by German engineering group Siemens, EPS said in a press release.

The 110 kV Kopaonik substation, with 35 kV and 10 kV outputs, has a cutting-edge technology, according to the press release from EPS. Safety is at the highest level, and electricity losses are negligible. The substation is connected to the dispatch center in Kraljevo, which will enable remote management of the new facility.

EPS’ investment will create conditions for a better and more reliable electricity supply to the largest winter tourism center in Serbia, EPS said in the press release, adding that the new substation has a capacity three times larger than the old one.

“The equipment installed in the new substation is Siemens’ state-of-the-art technology, with the highest level of security for every employee during intervention. The new substation was built to help preserve the existing volume of tourism and stabilize electricity supply to existing tourist facilities, but also to enable new investments,” said EPS acting General Manager Milorad Grčić.

He said the substation was built in line with the latest standards for altitudes above 1,500 meters, which means it is completely protected against all weather conditions.

Full stabilization of power supply to be achieved by end-2019

It is necessary to connect the Jošanička Banja substation with the Kopaonik substation in order to achieve a full stabilization of power supply in this region and prevent situations seen a few years ago, when snow cannons had to be shut down in order to secure electricity supply for all the hotels, Grčić said.

These additional works will be completed by the end of 2019, and after that Mt. Kopaonik will have a completely stable electricity supply.

Srdan Srdanović, head of energy management for the Adriatic region at Siemens, said the project was completed eight months ahead of schedule.

EPS has recently completed a EUR 3 million upgrade of the 110/20 kV Subotica 1 and Subotica 2 substations in the northern part of the country.