Predrag Đorđević, manager for key investment projects at Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS), said the feasibility study for the planned wind park in Kostolac would be finished by October.

In an interview for the June issue of Energija, the state-owned utility’s magazine, he added the development of the main design will ensue, followed by the preparation of tender documents for the procurement of equipment and works. So far the location and places for wind turbines were chosen and research was conducted, while the process lasted several years, he said.

As Đorđević pointed out, EPS accepted the principles of preventive planning in order to avoid negative impact on the environment, in this case in order to protect birds and bats. The study was conducted according to the standards of the European Union, he said.

The wind farm will be located 90 kilometers east of capital Belgrade. Sites Drmno, Petka, Ćirikovac and Klenovik are abandoned mining facilities and slag and ash ponds at the Kostolac coal basin. Total potential size of the facility is 50 square kilometers, while the particular locations vary from 1.5 to 10 square kilometers, according to the article in Energija.

Đorđević said the results of the preliminary feasibility study showed that in this area it is possible to build a wind farm with 20 turbines and a total installed capacity of 50 to 60 MW. The service life of the wind farm is projected at 20 to 25 years, and terrain features indicate a very favourable choice of location, he added.

A solar power plant of 9.9 MW is also planned to be installed in the area of the coal complex.