Beijing-based SANY Renewable Energy marked the start of construction of its wind power plants Alibunar A and Alibunar B in northeastern Serbia. The combined project, for 168 MW, is worth EUR 240 million. It will benefit from Serbian state support for 70% of the installed capacity through market premiums won at a renewable energy auction.
It is the company’s first renewable energy investment project in Serbia, but also an important milestone in its development in Central and Eastern Europe, said Tang Chao from SANY Renewable Energy, which is one of the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturers and providers of renewables technologies.
Serbian local and government officials and representatives of the Bank of China, Windvision Serbia and MVM Južna Bačka attended the groundbreaking ceremony today at the site of the Alibunar wind power project of 168 MW. Chinese company SANY Renewable Energy, the investor, has selected PowerChina Chengdu Engineering for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).
The endeavor in northeastern Serbia consists of Alibunar A, for 96.6 MW, and Alibunar B – 71.4 MW. They would have 40 wind turbines altogether, generating an expected 480 GWh per year.
The investment in Alibunar A and B is a landmark example of Sino-Serbian green energy cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative
SANY Renewable Energy, headquartered in Beijing, revealed that the investment totals EUR 240 million. It is a landmark example of practical green energy cooperation between China and Serbia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries, according to the company, which is also one of the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturers and providers of renewables technologies.
Alibunar is SANY Renewable Energy’s first large-scale overseas wind power investment project, as part of its globalization strategy and expansion in the said region.
Serbia providing excellent investment environment, strong incentive mechanism
As Europe advances its energy transition, Serbia is emerging as one of the most promising renewable energy markets in the Balkan region, SANY Renewable Energy’s representative Tang Chao stated.
“The south Banat region has abundant wind resources and flat terrain, which is perfect for developing wind power projects. Moreover, the Serbian government has set a very clear ambition and roadmap to sustainable development, and in order to achieve it, the government has also established an excellent investment environment and a strong incentive mechanism, which offers significant opportunities for international investment in the renewable energy sector,” he stressed in the runup to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Alibunar is an important milestone in the company’s development in Central and Eastern Europe, Tang said.
“SANY Renewable Energy is committed to delivering this project with the highest standards of safety, quality and professionalism. More importantly, we will continue to contribute to the country’s clean energy transition, and building long-term partnerships based on trust, responsibility and shared success,” he added.
Part of SANY Group, SANY Renewable Energy was founded in 2008. Last year, it amounted to 47 GW of installed capacity. The company has research and development centers in China and Spain and more than 30 production lines.
Highest standards, safety, environmental protection are priorities for Alibunar wind power project
Deputy General Manager of PowerChina Chengdu Engineering, Qiao Yuebin, thanked the governments of China and Serbia and partners and friends for long-standing support for the Alibunar project. It is also a model project for the strong cooperation between the two Chinese companies, he underscored.
Alibunar is a model project for strong cooperation between SANY Renewable Energy and PowerChina Chengdu Engineering
For Alibunar A and B, PowerChina Chengdu Engineering will utilize its technical advantages and experience in managing the entire industrial chain in the renewable energy sources sector, Qiao said. It aims to employ the highest standards, strictest requirements and best resources, the company’s representative asserted.
Its principles include safety first and priority for environmental protection, Qiao told the audience at the event in the village of Vladimirovac in Alibunar municipality. In his words, the project will set the benchmarks for technology innovation, and the company is ready to cooperate with SANY Renewable Energy, local partners and communities and state institutions on the integration of advanced Chinese technology.
Municipality head reaffirms support for investors
Chief of the Municipality of Alibunar, Zorana Bratić, said the local authority would remain a reliable partner to the investors and provide support for the project’s materialization.
The wind park will feature two substations of 35/220 kV each, one 220 kV switching station, and a 12.5-kilometer transmission line. In Serbia’s second round of renewable energy auctions, the two projects secured government support through 15-year contracts for difference (CfDs), covering 70% of the planned capacity.
