The Government of Serbia has decided to develop a special purpose spatial plan for a group of solar power plants totaling 1 GW in connection capacity, which will include battery energy storage systems with at least 200 MW of operating power. Hyundai Engineering and UGT Renewables have been selected as the strategic partners for this project. The consortium will install the facilities and hand them over to the state-owned power utility, Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). The Serbian government has tasked the Agency for Spatial and Urban Planning with creating the spatial plan for the construction of six high-capacity solar power plants equipped with battery storage.
Last year, the Hyundai Engineering and UGT Renewables consortium was designated as the strategic partner for a larger photovoltaic initiative with a combined capacity of 1.2 GW and connection terms of 1 GW, including a total of at least 200 MW of batteries and 400 MWh of storage capacity. The Ministry of Mining and Energy indicated in April that a commercial contract was in the process of being drafted.
The spatial plan will cover sites in the cities of Zaječar and Leskovac, along with four municipalities. In Zaječar, proposed locations include areas near the villages of Metriš and Salaš, while in the municipality of Negotin, sites will be located near Sikole I, Brestovac, Jasenica, Karbulovo, and Trnjane. The Leskovac portion of the project will encompass several cadastral municipalities, including Svirce, Vlase, Gornje Trnjane, Kukulovce, Šišince, Gornja Jajina, Veliko Trnjane, Rudare, Mrštane, and Badince. Additional photovoltaic facilities are planned in the municipality of Lebane and locations in Bujanovac and Odžaci.
The solar power systems will feature solar trackers to enhance efficiency. The special purpose spatial plan is essential for issuing location conditions, with a deadline of eight months for its completion, including a study on the protection of cultural heritage sites.
As part of the strategic partnership, the consortium is responsible for identifying suitable locations and preparing the necessary spatial planning documentation and studies. The solar power plants with storage must be completed and handed over to EPS by June 1, 2028. Hyundai Engineering, part of the South Korean Hyundai Motor Group, is also active in Montenegro in partnership with UGTR, which is based in Miami, Florida. The consortium served as the diamond sponsor of this year’s Belgrade Energy Forum, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.
