Hydropower plant driver to install 10 MW solar energy plant in BiH

• Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu, a firm had by power energy Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), intends to develop a solar power plant with a capability of approximately 10 MW.

Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske was previously granted a concession for the building of the 73 MW Trebinje solar power plant, so the project under development by its subsidiary that operates hydropower plants on the Vrbas river in Bosnia as well as Herzegovina may become its second system in the industry.

Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu (HE na Vrbasu) plans to set up a solar power plant at the area of Ada polje, downstream from HPP Bočac. The company performed an evaluation on the solar power possibility for the site. It has 15 hectares in the area, eKapija reported.

According to the results, the set up ability of the power plant, depending on the kind of photovoltaic panels, could be 8 MW to 10 MW, while the expected annual production is in between 8 GWh as well as 14 GWh. The electrical energy would certainly be provided to ERS, which has 65% of the subsidiary.

Of note, the combination of hydro and solar energy plants is identified as an option for the irregularity of both energy sources. Power utility Dravske Elektrarne Maribor from Slovenia, part of Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), recently revealed the building of a 30 MW solar energy plant near its 2 hydropower plants.

Velibor Jarić, acting exec director for production and maintenance at HE na Vrbasu, told eKapija that the research validated the economic viability of the recommended layout as well as construction of a solar energy plant at Ada polje.

The subsidiary manages HPP Bočac, with a capacity of 110 MW, and also HPP Bočac 2, with a capacity of 8.7 MW, which came online in October 2018.

Jarić stated HE na Vrbasu considers the project very lucrative. The building of the solar power plant won't have an unfavorable influence on the environment, and also the advancement of the center is essential as electrical power production is reduced in the said part of Bosnia as well as Herzegovina, he claimed.

The project is in the first stage as well as preparations are underway for the style while the beginning of manufacturing is anticipated by the end of 2022.