PE EPS Supervisory Board on Lim-Zapadna Morava Hydro System
The very core of the project along with a condition for realization could be Bistrica pumped-storage hydro power plant and its upper reservoir Klak.
PE EPS Supervisory Board has adopted initiative for reaffirming the concept for realization of Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system which project is going to be included in the Electric Power Industry of Serbia's Strategy and Development Long-term Plan. The Supervisory Board also proposed the initiation of the task for the construction of Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system, like a project of national importance, into the Energy Development Means of the Republic of Serbia until 2040, with projections until 2050.
– Construction of the multipurpose Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system would be a means to fix the growing issue of energy stability, independence and security of Serbia, together with regulating water courses, providing drinking water reserves and promoting economic development of the nation – said Mr.Vladimir Siljkut PhD, PE EPS director's adviser for that business system.
The very core from the project along with a condition for realization would be Bistrica pumped-storage hydro power plant and its upper reservoir Klak. EPS prepared research “Bistrica PSHPP – Analyses and Investment and Technical Documents” in 2023. The study indicates feasibility and necessity of this facility for EPS. Anything for all of the Basic Design, Feasibility Study and planning document for Bistrica PSHPP will be signed soon and the construction is planned to become performed by 2030. The reasoned requirements have been listed in the federal government of the Republic of Serbia for approval, for the preparation from the Special Purpose Area Spatial Plan of Bistrica PSHPP, and for declaring Bistrica PSHPP like a facility of national importance. After the design documents are ready, EPS will decide on continuing activities related to realization of Bistrica PSHPP, based on a potential construction financing method.
– This is followed using the construction of Lim-Zapadna Morava system, addressing natural continuation of Bistrica PSHPP Project. The Project would come with construction of three dams and many hydro power plants with reservoirs holding reserve of as much as one terawatt-hour. This exceeds the present total capacity of EPS' reservoirs – said Mr. Siljkut.
The key facility in Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system would be 200 m high Orlovaca dam, having a hydro power plant, then Ljubisnica run-of-river HPP, and Roge dam and HPP, along with Djetinja run-of-river HPP, using a tunnel by which water could be discharged in to the Zapadna Morava in the summer, for irrigation and water quality improvement within this catchment area. Svrackovo dam for water intake, that is under construction, is situated at the end of the system, and it has the potential of a hydro power plant being constructed next to it.
Both, Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system and Bistrica PSHPP project were conceived several decades ago. The main difference compared to previous considerations is the idea to think about possibilities and effects of constructing pumped-storage hydro power plants at the previously discussed locations, during further growth and development of this hydro system project, or at least to depart an area for subsequent construction of pumping plants along with those hydro power plants. They would be constructed when the achieved level of alternative energy share with variable production in the production mix would want it. Thus, the best possible flexibility of the Serbian power system could be achieved which allows the maximum possible integration of RES in it. Through this Project, within the next half of the century, Serbia would ensure not just energy security and stability but also the maximum possible integration of RES.
Lim-Zapadna Morava hydro system will be a water management, water supply, irrigation and environmental project. Bistrica PSHPP would take flood spring water through its upper reservoir Klak and gravity tunnel into the Rzav catchment area and store it within three great reservoirs, with five new power plants. During the peak load periods of consumption and in summer time, dry period, along with producing usable energy, considerable quantities of this water could be employed for improving water quality, water supply and irrigation inside the Djetinja, the Moravica and the Velika Morava catchment areas.
– I hope that reinitiating such, good and perspective ideas and projects, using the support from expert and general public, will bring about the long-term development and improvement in electricity production in EPS, turning toward saving money energy and overall prosperity of the nation and society in general. It is particularly important that this was pondered by young, professional and company-loyal staff of PE EPS, initiating reaffirmation of these ideas and projects – said Mr. Vladimir Siljkut, PhD.
Aid from EU and funds
Regarding financing possibilities, there is a suggestion that the state, through EU aid along with other funds for green projects, provides funds for financing dams, access roads, hydro technical and gravity tunnels, since the aim of this is to manage water courses and lower risk of floods, to improve water supply and water quality, as the energy related part would be EPS' obligation – explained Mr. Siljkut.
