Herzegovina is becoming a leader in the production of electricity from solar, with a higher power than Krško

JP Elektroprivreda HZ HB will have a new project that includes a photovoltaic power plant with an installed capacity of 150 MW, and the City of Mostar is embarking on a similar project

An exceptionally large number of sunny days in the south of the country, in the region of Herzegovina, is a basic prerequisite for the energy transition that is on the horizon, and which, according to everything, will include a large number of plants for the production of electricity from the sun, which will certainly be contributed to by the liberalization of the legal framework , which is an issue of extreme importance for households, writes Večernji list BiH.

In addition to the existing facilities, numerous investors and companies will soon begin the implementation of significant projects for the construction of solar power plants, and among them are Elektroprivreda Hrvatske jajedina Herceg Bosna, the City of Mostar, as well as some private companies.

At the moment, one of the local communities where large infrastructure projects aimed at the energy transition are being realized or will soon be realized is the City of Stolac, where, according to announcements, after the implementation of all the planned plans, there will be several solar power plants with a total power of even 600 megawatts, which is almost like the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, which has a power of 696 MW. When other capacities are added to that, it is clear that in Herzegovina the sum of the installed power of all solar plants will threaten the installed power of Krško.

Investments

In an interview with Večernji list, Mayor Stjepan Bošković says that the City is meeting investors as much as possible for the realization of their business ideas, confirming that two solar power plants are currently in the construction phase – one in the Hodovo business zone, the other on Komanje Brdo, and there are plans to the third, which will be built by Elektroprivreda of the Croatian Community of Herceg Bosna. And in the context of accelerating investment processes, Bošković stated the need to change the county spatial plan.

Otherwise, when it comes to the new project of Elektroprivreda HZ HB, it will additionally confirm the position of this company when it comes to renewable energy sources.

Marinko Gilja, general manager of JP Elektroprivreda HZ HB d. d. Mostar recently confirmed that, in view of the strategic goal of diversifying the production portfolio, in addition to hydroelectric and wind power plants, they are also planning the construction and commissioning of the photovoltaic power plant SE EP HZ HB 1 in the area of Stolac, with a total installed capacity of 150 MW, a planned annual production of 244 GWh. The value of this project is estimated at around 180 million KM.

The city of Mostar will become the first local community in Bosnia and Herzegovina to have its own solar power plant, and at the moment work is being done to secure the necessary documentation.

Mayor Mario Kordić confirmed for Večernji list that the energy produced in this way will be directed into the existing energy network, which already consists of electricity obtained from Elektroprivreda HZ HB and Elektroprivreda BiH. The location of the future facility will be in the Polog area, west of the city, and expectations are that Mostar will complete the process of obtaining all the necessary permits by summer. The construction decision was made based on the analysis of the potential in relation to the number of hours of sunshine and changes in electricity prices on a global level, and when it comes to technical details, it will be a power plant of 5 x 12 = 60 megawatts (MW).

In the process of energy transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union is a key partner, which with its knowledge and financial resources in the near future will even more strongly support projects aimed at reducing the emission of harmful gases. In the column of the Head of the Delegation of the European Union and the Special Representative of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler, and the Ambassador of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johanna Strömquist, it was emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its sunny south, windy mountains and an enviable wealth of water resources, could be the center of renewable energy sources. in the Western Balkans.

EU assistance

The “green transition” begins and ends with energy and Bosnia and Herzegovina could enjoy cheap, clean and sustainable energy for every home and workplace, senior officials said, recalling the EU’s energy package, which is the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced during her visit to the Western Balkans. It allocates EUR 50 million in immediate aid for vulnerable families in BiH as support due to rising prices, and EUR 20 million to support energy efficiency in households and companies.

The question of the energy transition in BiH, that is, the transition to completely renewable energy sources, should certainly be observed in the context of the recent rules that will refer to decarbonization, and on which the competitiveness of our export-oriented economy will depend. And when it comes to harmonizing the acquis with the European Union, we should definitely refer to the fact that there are three legal solutions in this direction in the procedure of the Federal Parliament.