The 10 MW Petka solar power plant has officially entered its trial phase, becoming the first solar facility to generate electricity at the Kostolac site. Built on the reclaimed land of a former mining tailings dump, the project highlights state-owned utility EPS’s commitment to cleaner energy solutions.
In parallel, EPS is progressing with its on-site wind farm, where the first turbines are now being installed on similarly repurposed land. These turbines are expected to undergo network integration and commissioning tests in August, ultimately adding 76 MW of wind capacity to Serbia’s energy system.
Minister of Energy and Mining Dubravka Djedovic stated that Serbia’s Energy Development Strategy aims for 45 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. To achieve this, the Government is advancing key infrastructure projects such as the Bistrica pump-storage hydropower plant and the installation of 1 GW of solar capacity backed by battery storage. Over the next decade, total investments in the energy sector are projected to reach around 14 billion euros.
EPS General Director Dusan Zivkovic noted that the combined capacity of the 10 MW Petka plant, the upcoming 76 MW wind farm, and the recently commissioned 350 MW Kostolac B3 unit has increased the region’s total capacity by approximately 426 MW. He emphasized that each added megawatt contributes to the resilience of the power system, especially during high-demand periods like summer heat waves.
Zivkovic added that projects like Petka not only expand EPS’s renewable energy portfolio but also enhance grid stability and help secure a reliable power supply for both households and businesses. He confirmed that EPS plans to replicate similar renewable projects at other landfills and former mining sites under its management.
