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Fortis Energy acquired a 180 MW photovoltaic project in Serbia. It said it would include 36 MWh of battery capacity.
One of the biggest solar power investments with energy storage in Southeastern Europe is in the works. Turkey-based Fortis Energy, which recently took over two biogas power plants in Pančevo, Serbia, has just revealed that it acquired a major solar power project in the country.
The site is in Sremska Mitrovica, west of the capital Belgrade. The company said the photovoltaic facility would have a grid connection of 180 MW. It would be one of the largest of its kind in Southeastern Europe. Furthermore, Fortis Energy added that it plans to include a battery energy storage system or BESS with 36 MWh in capacity.
The Turkish investor expects to start construction in 2025, according to the announcement.
Of note, RP Global said last year that it would build a solar power plant of up to 100 MW with battery storage on the territory of the city of Sremska Mitrovica. Israel-based L.O.I 360 Strategy and Business Development earlier announced it intends to install an agrisolar park in the same area. The project is for two photovoltaic facilities with a combined capacity of 75 MW.
Fortis Energy is separately developing 1 GW of renewables projects in Serbia
Fortis Energy recently commissioned two generators at its Dolovo biogas power plant in Pančevo. The facility uses organic waste. The 2 MW system produces more than 17.6 GWh of electricity per year.
As of recently, the company had 1 GW in projects in Serbia. It is preparing to install wind parks Gornjak (194.4 MW) in the country’s east, Juhor (144 MW) in the central part and Vranje (171 MW) near the eponymous city near the border with North Macedonia.
Fortis Group plans to complete the facilities by the end of 2028 and combine them with battery storage. It said the feasibility studies are nearly finished and that it expects the three wind power plants to generate 1.5 TWh per year in total.
Company’s portfolio includes largest solar power plant in North Macedonia
In the home market, Fortis Group operates photovoltaic and biogas facilities and develops an electric vehicle charging network. Investments are underway in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, too.
Fortis Group recently built the biggest solar power plant in North Macedonia. State-owned power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija, ESM, selected it for a public-private partnership in 2021 for 50 MW. The company expanded the project to 79.9 MW in peak capacity and a 68.7 MW connection.
The location is in REK Oslomej, one of two coal mining and power complexes in the country. The solar power plant at a depleted open cast coal mine has an estimated annual output of 120 GWh. It comprises 124,000 PV panels.
Good to see progress in renewables. Here in Tucson Arizona we have super abundant solar potential. Much more needs to be done.