The editor of the portal “Energy of Balkans” Jelica Putniković and energy expert Miloš Zdravković estimated that with the construction of the reversible hydro-power plant “Bistrica”, Serbia will get a “golden goose” on the energy market, because it will not only produce a large amount of green energy, but will also be able to to export it at the best prices.
“When they say that we are an energy-poor country, they are wrong – we are not. Hungary alone cannot afford to build reversible hydropower plants because they are related to the configuration of the terrain. You cannot build them anywhere. In addition to the Bajina Bašta reversible hydropower plant, we also have the potential to build Bistrica and Đerdap 3,” said Zdravković.
He added that this project is good, not only because of the production of green electricity, but also because of the possibility to export the electricity thus produced at the most favorable prices.
As he explained, electricity is a commodity whose price varies in real time from minute to minute – it is the most expensive when it is used the most, and the cheapest at night when the need for energy is the least.
He adds that the technology of electricity generation in reversible hydro-electric power plants allows energy to be sold when it is the most expensive, and produced when it is the cheapest.
“Even though it has a smaller capacity than the Nikola Tesla (TENT) thermal power plant, it is worth more in a financial sense,” said Zdravković. “If we need to copy someone, we need someone who is successful, like Japan,” says Putniković and adds that, on the other hand, Japan is interested in participating in the construction project in order to sell its technology.
She emphasized that Serbian experts and engineers are very good and successful, that they built large hydropower plants, such as Djerdap or Bajina Bašta, and that Bistrica should be built in such a way that it remains in Serbia.
“Choose the technology that is the most favorable for Serbia, and let the ownership of Bistrica remain ours,” Putnikovć said. She pointed out that the EU has made a decision to collect taxes on CO2 production, and that although Serbia will not pay the penalties immediately.
“Nevertheless, we must create a mechanism for all those who produce harmful gases to set aside some funds that would be invested in the production of green energy. So that we can in some way reach companies in Western countries that had EU assistance on the other hand,” says Putniković.
She added that Poland was dependent on electricity produced in thermal power plants, but that the EU, with significant funds, helped it to invest in electricity obtained from renewable sources.
