EPBiH wants to lease, buy land for installation of solar power plants

Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) has launched a public call for municipalities, individuals, and legal entities to express interest in selling or leasing out land for the construction of photovoltaic power plants.

EPBiH’s intention to buy and lease land for the construction of solar power plants is a new model the company intends to use in order to increase the production of energy from renewable energy sources. Similar models have already been applied by other state-owned power companies in the region.

Land lease will be contracted for a maximum period of 25 years, EPBiH said.

EPBiH will lease land for a maximum of 25 years

The company will give priority to locations with a higher number of sunlight hours during the year and better site conditions, while offers can be submitted until December 31.

The company is looking for municipalities interested in leasing out land for the construction of PV facilities. The projects would be implemented in partnership with the local authorities.

Land offered by a municipality must span ​​at least 100,000 m2.

Municipalities can offer a minimum area of ​​100,000 m2, and individuals and legal entities a minimum area of 50,000 m2

Individuals and legal entities can offer land for sale or lease. They must be the owners of the property, which must span at least 50,000 m2.

Abandoned coal mines, project acquisitions, cooperation with municipalities…

A variety of models are used by state-owned power utilities in the region to increase the production of green energy in various ways. A few days ago, EPBiH unveiled plans to build solar power plants on former open-pit coal mines, a solution announced earlier by Serbia’s Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).

In addition to using coal mines, power companies are also launching public calls for cooperation with local governments and private companies.

Public invitations for the purchase of green projects were published by HEP, EPBiH and EPHZHB

HEP published the first public call for the acquisition of renewable energy projects in February 2019, and the second in July 2020. In addition to partners – individuals and legal entities – who are willing to sell projects, the Croatian company was also looking for local municipalities to jointly develop solar power plants.

EPBiH launched a public call last year, and its general manager Admir Andelija said the company is negotiating with the owners of as many as 15 renewable power plants to buy the facilities. Another company from BiH – Elektroprivreda HZHB (EPHZHB) – started applying this model in May this year.

A few days ago, Serbia enabled the lease of state-owned agricultural land for the construction of solar power plants and wind farms.