Solar park project of 100 MW added to pipeline in sunny Herzegovina

The small town of Bileća is taking the lead in Bosnia and Herzegovina with renewable energy projects. A domestic company has just filed a preliminary environmental impact assessment study for a solar park with almost 100 MW in total capacity.

The list of renewable energy projects in Herzegovina is growing almost by the day. Tehničko tehnološki centar (TTC), a firm from Istočno Sarajevo, submitted a request to the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska for a preliminary environmental impact assessment for a solar power plant with a peak capacity of 94.7 MW to 99.7 MW.

The grid connection is planned at 85 MW. The site for the project, called PV-solarni park Plana, is in the municipality of Bileća in Herzegovina, the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Republic of Srpska is one of the two entities making up the country, the other one being the Federation of BiH.

Solar park to consist of 26 units

The area for the planned photovoltaic facility spans 1,574 hectares. The solar park would consist of 26 units, with 133.8 GWh in total expected annual output, according to the document. Comments and suggestions regarding the request and the accompanying documentation can be sent until October 21.

TTC plans to connect the solar park to an existing 110 kV line

The two largest units are envisaged with a capacity of 11.3 MW each, on a joint lot of almost 28 hectares. The smallest of the 26 units is seen at only 120 kW. The firm plans to connect the solar park to an existing 110 kV line.

The preliminary study shows the area enjoys 2,350 sun hours per year. The location is on municipal and private low-quality land, graded 4 to 6.

Bileća is getting solar, hydro, wind capacity

The Republic of Srpska launched a public call in June for 50-year concessions for a large solar power plant and a wind farm in Bileća, both called Planik. The town currently seems to be in the lead in BiH in renewable energy projects in the pipeline.

The entity government also placed a call for bids in July for the Solar Park Bileća project of 10 MW.

Of note, EFT is the concessionaire for a 60 MW solar power plant also called Bileća. Hydropower plant operator Hidroelektrane na Trebišnjici, part of state-owned coal and power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske, plans to build a hydroelectric facility of the same name.

Solar power is favorite choice for investors in Herzegovina

Almost every municipality in east Herzegovina, in the territory of the Republic of Srpska, has a major renewable energy endeavor under development. The favorite choice is solar power.

Etmax from Banja Luka recently applied for a 50-year concession for a solar park of 500 MW in Nevesinje. It is the biggest project so far in BiH. It would consist of seven units. The company already got a concession for a 60 MW project there.

The largest solar power project in BiH, at 500 MW, was launched by Etmax

In the region’s western part, in FBiH, the construction of the largest photovoltaic unit in the country began in May. The area is also scattered with small PV systems and locations for more such projects.

Moreover, local company Eco-Wat intends to install a 150 MW solar park near Stolac. The Municipality of Ravno has signed deals for two utility-scale projects.