One of Serbia’s oldest hydropower systems is getting a face lift

Vlasina Hydropower Plant (Credit: Western Balkans Investment Framework)

The Vlasinske hydropower system, made up of four cascade plants, has been operating for nearly 80 years without any significant upgrades. As one of the oldest power systems in Serbia, its technology and infrastructure are showing their age.

Now, however, a renovation is in sight, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU). The project, which is expected to begin in spring 2025, will aim to modernize and improve the output of the system.

“The project has been a long time coming,” said engineer Marko Filipović, who works for Serbia’s state power company EPS, also noting that EPS had many other priorities over the years that postponed Vlasinske’s redevelopment. “We managed to keep the plant in operation with just regular maintenance and overhauls. But this has become increasingly difficult, more costly, and time-consuming. The company, therefore, realized that it would be more efficient to invest in complete reconstruction and new equipment.”

The Vlasinske hydropower system was constructed between 1946 and 1949. It includes two artificially created lakes, Vlasina and Lisina, connected by nearly 60 kilometers of canals and tunnels, which supply the plants with water. One of the plants is built inside a mountain, while the Vlasina lake sits more than 1,200 meters above sea level.

The revitalization will be financed with a €67 million loan and a €15.4 million investment grant from the EU, secured through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

“The investment project will focus on replacing essential equipment: all turbines, generators, and primary and secondary hydromechanical equipment,” Marko says. “Once installed, this new equipment will then ensure that the four hydropower plants can operate at full capacity without the current need for frequent repairs. This will result in a much more balanced and stable electricity network and allow for a slight increase in generation capacity as well.”

More broadly, the project will contribute to Serbia’s efforts to strengthen its renewable energy capacity and shift its power generation network to cleaner sources. Coal still dominates Serbia’s energy landscape, accounting for around 60% of electricity production. Hydropower provides nearly 30% of its energy, but all of the country’s existing plants were built decades ago, and EPS is under pressure to modernize and expand their lifespans.

“Revitalizing these plants is crucial to the country’s energy future,” says Jovan Ilić, who heads the Maintenance and Subsequent Investments Unit of the Hydro and Renewables Division at EPS. “The Vlasinske system is a priority as the oldest plant of this type, but there are plans to modernize other plants as well. We have intensified work in this area and we are hopeful that, in the coming years, we will see more, similar investments. The reconstruction of the Bistrica and Potpec hydropower plants is imminent, as well as that of Djerdap 2. Future reconstruction projects will include the remaining EPS hydropower plants: Uvac, Kokin Brod and Pirot.”

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