Not just gold, sun shines in eastern Serbia too – Timocka Krajina becoming epicenter of solar storm worth billions of euros

Eastern Serbia, known for decades for its rich mining history, is rapidly transforming into the largest green energy construction site in the country. Timocka Krajina no longer attracts investors only because of its gold, but also because of the solar potential of this region.

The geographical balance of an exceptionally high number of sunny days and unused land potential - from neglected agricultural plots to devastated mining tailings, has triggered a green transition worth billions of euros.

New solar park worth 23 million euros announced near Zajecar

The latest example is the announcement of the construction of the private solar park “Mali Izvor” (capacity 50 MW), near Zajecar. A request for determining the scope and content of an environmental impact assessment study has been submitted to the relevant ministry for this project. The investment by the domestic company Network Energy south of Zajecar, designed by GMS Consult, envisages the use of 710 Wp bifacial panels and its own battery (BESS) with a capacity of 20 MWh for grid stabilization.

At the same time, power systems with a total capacity exceeding several gigawatts are being extensively designed throughout the Timocka Krajina region.

Chinese mega-project for decarbonization of Bor and Majdanpek

The former plans of Western investors for a small tailings dump in Bor have grown into a historic state agreement. The Serbian government has launched a project worth EUR 2 billion with Chinese companies Shanghai Fengling Renewables and Serbia Zijin Copper. As much as 2,000 MW (2 GW) of hybrid power is planned, of which 500 MW from solar power plants and 1,500 MW from wind. Solar panels will massively cover the devastated mining waste dumps and tailings dumps in Bor and open-pit mines in Majdanpek. The plan is for all electricity to be used directly to power the mines and smelters, while the surplus will be processed into green hydrogen in a factory with a capacity of 30,000 tons per year.

Largest state and private solar parks in preparation

According to official government decisions and signed connection agreements with Elektromreza Srbije (EMS), the key players in the upcoming energy revolution in the Timok Region are:

The state-owned SPP “Sikole” (461 MW) and “Jasenica” (70.2 MW): these are the two largest power plants in a large state project of 1 GW. They will be built by the Hyundai - UGT consortium, equipped with modern trackers that track the sun and battery systems, and upon completion will become the permanent property of EPS. They will be located in Negotin, and the infrastructure will also extend to the Zajecar villages of Metris and Salas.

SPP “Kladovo Solar Gate” (300 MW): The largest announced private solar project in Kladovo (investor ERG Renewables) on 580 hectares, designed as an agri-solar park where livestock farming will take place under the panels in parallel.

Hybrid Power Plant “Vida Power” (150 MW solar/370 MW total, with wind turbines) and SPP “Solarina” (185 MW): Two massive systems by CWP Europe located north of Zajecar (villages of Glogovica, Dubocane, Salas).

SPP “Solar Knjazevac” (170 MW): A project by Central Europe Energy Company (backed by Chinese giant GCL) with approved grid connection. It is planned on 267 hectares in the Tresibaba area, and the investment is estimated at EUR 200 million.

SPP “Bukovo” (88 MW): A planned private park in Negotin near the monastery of the same name.

B. P.

GMS Consult doo Beograd

ENERGY NETWORK DOO BEOGRAD

Network Energy

GMS Consult

SPP Mali izvor

Timočka krajina

solar energy

solar power plants in Timočka krajina

SPP Sikole

SPP Jasenica

hybrid power plant Vida Power

1 GW state project

SPP Solarina

SPP Bukovo

SPP Kladovo Solar Gate