Serbia advances RHE Bistrica hydropower project and Bajina Bašta revitalization

Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) has announced the complete revitalization of the Bajina Bašta pumped-storage hydropower plant following a 35 million euro investment. The facility, which features two units with a total capacity of 614 MW, serves as a critical tool for balancing the national grid by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak usage, particularly to support the integration of variable renewable sources like wind and solar.

Simultaneously, EPS is moving forward with the strategic construction of the RHE Bistrica pumped-storage plant. This project, which will provide approximately 660 MW of capacity and an annual production of 1,600 GWh, is the first reversible hydropower plant Serbia has built in over four decades. The plant is designed to facilitate the integration of up to 1,500 MW of new renewable energy capacities.

Technical preparations for RHE Bistrica are underway, with approximately 250 requests for permits and consents submitted in the last six months. A tender for the main facility is planned for 2027, and a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expected to be signed during EXPO 2027.