EPBiH to build 56 MW solar park on coal plant’s ash, slag dump in Tuzla

State-owned energy utility Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine (EPBiH) is preparing to install a photovoltaic plant of 56 MW at the site of an ash and slag dump at its Tuzla coal-fired power plant in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Chief Executive Officer of Elektroprivreda BiH Admir Andelija and other representatives of the company spoke to Tuzla Mayor Jasmin Imamović and his team about the utility’s plan to build a 56 MW solar park called Divkovići 1 and 2 at the location of an ash and slag dump within the Tuzla thermal power plant complex.

The local officials agreed the city’s land use plan and the Tuzla Canton’s spatial plan should be changed to enable the construction of the renewable energy facility, the state-owned company said. According to EPBiH, Imamović and his associates also expressed support for the desulfurization project for unit 6 in the Tuzla coal plant.

Expanding biomass project on coal mine land

The utility also presented its project for growing biomass on land that belongs to its coal mines as well as its other activities related to the decarbonization of the energy sector and a just transition of regions where the local economy is still dependent on the fossil fuel. Fast-growing willow should partly replace coal in thermal power plants.

Fast-growing willow should partly replace coal in thermal power plants

The trees are planted in Kreka and Breza on one hectare each, and the plan is to add 15 hectares in total in Kreka, Breza and Đurđevik. Elektroprivreda Srbije from neighboring Serbia is implementing the same project.

“It is very important for us that Elektroprivreda BiH is diversifying the directions for its growth and that it is adjusting to the unavoidable decarbonization. It is important for us to have a strong EPBiH as a condition for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy independence. It is important for us to have quality heating in Tuzla, while clean air is especially important to us,” Mayor Imamović stated.

Decarbonization trend in coal sector

Companies that produce coal and run thermal power plants are working on a transition to other energy sources. The trend gained momentum in Southeastern Europe as well, particularly with the rehabilitation of landfills and using them and depleted open-cast coal pits for the construction of wind farms and solar parks.

However, EPBiH is still not giving up on building two coal plants.

The Republic of Srpska, BiH’s other entity, is planning to install utility-scale solar power plants on abandoned open pits in coal mining and power generation complex RiTE Ugljevik, which operates as part of state-controlled power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS).