Serbia’s state-owned power utility EPS is continuing its hydropower modernization program, following upgrades at the Bajina Bašta, Zvornik, and Đerdap 1 plants. The next phase will focus on the Vlasina hydropower plants, with a reconstruction and modernization contract signed with Energotehnika Južna Bačka.
The project coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Vlasina hydropower system and will increase its installed capacity by 8 MW, ensuring reliable operation for the next 30 to 40 years. This upgrade will extend the life of one of EPS’s oldest and most important hydropower complexes.
The Vlasina plants are unique within EPS’s portfolio, operating in a cascade system that generates electricity four times in sequence from the same water flow — making it a vital source of peak energy for Serbia’s grid.
Valued at €109.7 million, the modernization will include a full overhaul of generating units, auxiliary systems, and hydromechanical equipment. The main turbines and generators will be supplied by Andritz Hydro and Gamesa Electric.
Funding will come from a combination of sources: a €67 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), €15.43 million in EU grants via the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), and €27.26 million from EPS’s own resources.
Commissioned in 1955 with the operation of the first unit at HPP Vrla 1, the Vlasina hydro system includes the Vlasina reservoir, four cascade power plants, and the Lisina pumping station with its reservoir. With an installed capacity of 129 MW, the system has generated over 17 million GWh of renewable electricity since commissioning, remaining a cornerstone of Serbia’s energy stability and sustainability.
