Bosnian Utility Seeking Renewable Energy Projects

Bosnia and Herzegovina electricity utility Elektroprivreda Hrvatske Zajednice Herceg Bosne (EPHZHB) is exploring the opportunity to acquire renewable energy projects that are either operational or at an advanced development stage, to integrate into its grid. For this, it has launched an expression of interest (EOI).

Under the EOI, it has called for standalone solar power plants, with a capacity of more than 1 MW. Operational projects will get priority, but non-integrated under development projects also over 1 MW capacity will be considered. Preference will be given to projects in locations with higher solar irradiance, better micro-location conditions and spatial planning documentation ready for project development.

It said partners with a minimum location permit will be considered.

Wind power plants and hydropower projects over 1 MW capacity, in development or in operation, will also be considered.

Interested companies will be required to submit applications specifying number of units, installed capacity and annual production of their projects, along with mentioning the cost-effectiveness analysis for developing projects.

Last date to submit EOIs is December 31, 2021 according the EPHZHB tender call. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the utility for project details.

According to the utility, this exercise is part of its strategic goals and to diversify its renewable energy product portfolio which majorly comprises hydropower plants with a current total installed capacity of about 860 MW, which is of course dependent on weather conditions. It only got into wind energy space in 2018.

Back in September 2020, another Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) utility EPBiH said it plans to install 200 MW solar PV capacity for open coal pits to lower its carbon emissions by 2025 (see Solar Power For Coal Pits Of Bosnian Electric Utility).

In March 2021, there were media reports suggesting that the country will launch a 90- MW international solar power tender in 2021 for its Bosanski Petrovac municipality (see 90 MW PV Plant For Bosnia and Herzegovina).

In a related development from BiH, another local power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) through its group company Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu (HE na Vrbasu) plans to install a 10 MW solar power project in Ada Polje location expecting the facility to produce 8 GWh to 14 GWh annually on completion, reported Balkan Green Energy News.