Bechtel Sole Qualified Applicant for Serbia's €2.6bn Đerdap 3 Pumped‑Storage Project

The U.S. engineering and construction firm Bechtel has been confirmed as the only consortium to meet all technical and administrative criteria in the second‑stage selection process for Serbia's Đerdap 3 pumped‑storage hydroelectric project. Six companies submitted expressions of interest after a public call launched in June, but the evaluation committee found only the Bechtel‑led consortium satisfied the requirements.

Đerdap 3 is planned as a reversible hydro plant on the Danube with a capacity of up to 2,400 MW, making it the largest battery in Europe. The investment is estimated at €2.6 billion, with the first phase aimed for completion by 2036. The project is expected to provide large‑scale flexibility for balancing wind and solar generation, manage peak demand, and support cross‑border electricity trading.

While the qualification does not guarantee a construction contract, it positions Bechtel strongly for the next procurement steps, which will focus on detailed design, environmental approvals, and financing arrangements.