Electricity

Luka Petrović: ERS intends to be regional seller of balance energy

Luka Petrovic ERS intends to be regional seller of balance energy

Photo: ERS

Published

June 11, 2021

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

June 11, 2021

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

State-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) plans to build hydropower plants and solar power plants, while wind farms will not be in its focus.

Luka Petrović, General Manager of ERS, said the company’s share of renewable energy sources is currently at 40% while that the goal is to reach 60% which implies finishing the construction of hydropower plants Dabar, Buk Bijela, Bistrica, as well as solar power plant Trebinje 1 and wind farm Hrgud.

The Republic of Srpska has a huge hydro potential, as well as great potentials for the development of wind and solar power plants, according to Petrović. But due to its intermittency, wind energy produces balancing costs for investors, which is why ERS opted primarily for the construction of hydropower plants and solar power plants, he said.

Balancing costs for wind farms are a problem for investors

So far, ERS has developed projects for 247 MW within the Trebinje-Ljubinje solar projects, which will be used with hydropower plants that are in the pipeline to sell balance energy to the surrounding countries, the company quoted Petrović as saying on its website.

Last year, ERS received a concession for the construction of the Trebinje 1 power plant, and took over the development of the Ljubinje photovoltaic plant, for which the tender flopped in 2018.

He noted that on July 13 the European Commission is set to present a proposal for a carbon border tax. European Union member states already pay EUR 54 per ton of CO2 equivalent while the Republic of Srpska isn’t in the system, the CEO added.

There is an idea to demonstrate the willingness to align with the EU policy by separating a certain amount of money and invest it in ERS’s renewables projects, Petrović said.

Authorities in BiH must understand the construction of new power plants is important for both the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of BiH

He said authorities in BiH must finally understand and acknowledge that the construction of energy facilities has great importance for both the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of BiH, and that individuals and institutions at the BiH level should stop blocking projects of general interest.

The Federation of BiH will also benefit from the projects, like HPP Buk Bijela, because the VAT from the sale of electricity will be paid to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus the Federation of BiH as well, Petrović said.

In his view, the goal of ERS and the Government of the Republic of Srpska is to urgently invest in renewable energy sources because it would maintain the lowest price of electricity for households in the entity.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Construction Ingka Investments 300 MW solar park Romania well underway

Construction of Ingka Investments 300 MW solar park in Romania well underway

30 July 2025 - Ingka Investments, a division of the largest IKEA franchisee, is building the largest solar power plant in Romania

romania INVL Renewable Energy Fund Kommunalkredit

INVL fund secures loan for 71 MW of solar projects in Romania

30 July 2025 - INVL Renewable Energy Fund I, managed by INVL Asset Management, invests in renewable energy projects

Price of residential battery storage in Europe drops over 50 in two years

Price of residential battery storage in Europe drops over 50% in two years

30 July 2025 - The mature residential battery storage markets in Europe are stabilizing, while policy-driven and emerging markets are gaining traction

Eximprod 38 4 MW wind farm northeast of Bucharest

Production starts at new 38.4 MW wind farm northeast of Bucharest

30 July 2025 - Eximprod started generating electricity in its new wind farm in Romania's east, while several other projects in the country are near completion