EPS looking for consultant on strategic investment, development

State power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is looking for a consultant to advise it on strategic investment and development.

EPS has issued a public call for consultancy services, setting an October 3 deadline for prospective advisers to apply.

In the energy transition process, which involves decarbonization, EPS will be required to phase out domestic lignite in electricity production, bring its operations into line with Serbia’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and Energy Sector Development Strategy, ensure energy security and the security of supply, and meet other requirements, the company said.

EPS has sent a scenario for approval to relevant authorities

EPS needs to optimize investments in existing production assets in order to increase profitability while meeting all these requirements, according to the public call.

The consultant should help define a development strategy for EPS’ production portfolio and offer recommendations for investment in new and existing power plants.

As part of an assessment of long-term optimal solutions and investment prioritization, it is necessary to draw up a scenario, EPS said, adding that it has already prepared the document and sent it to relevant authorities for approval. Details of the proposed scenario were not revealed in the public call.

Two tasks for future consultant

EPS will expect the selected consultant to perform two tasks.

The power utility notes that preparing a strategy and conducting the necessary analyses will require the development of a wholesale electricity market model for the Southeast Europe region in one of the recognized simulation modelling software suites. It will also require creating a database in line with ENTSO-E standards, EPS added.

The first task, therefore, is to create, update, and maintain a market model for the electricity systems of Serbia and countries in the Southeast Europe region.

The consultant will be required to assess the impact of mechanisms such as CBAM and EU ETS on EPS’ performance

The second task is to select and prioritize investments and optimize and evaluate EPS’ production portfolio by analyzing the business environment in the region and the limitations imposed by EU directives under the European Green Deal.

The optimization and evaluation of the production portfolio is to be carried out over the next 20 years, according to the public call.

To obtain relevant projections of EPS’ business performance, it is necessary to factor in the individual impacts of mechanisms such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), and the Energy Community Carbon Pricing Mechanism, environmental protection costs, as well as their combinations, according to the public call.