Nikola Tesla power station
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related coal trackers: |
Nikola Tesla power station is an operating power station of at least 3066-megawatts (MW) in Urovci, Obrenovac, Beograd, Serbia with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as TENT B3 (Phase B Unit 3), TENT B4 (Phase B Unit 4).
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Tesla power station | Urovci, Obrenovac, Beograd, Serbia | 44.671341, 20.158418 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase A Unit 1, Phase A Unit 2, Phase A Unit 3, Phase A Unit 4, Phase A Unit 5, Phase A Unit 6: 44.671341, 20.158418
- Phase B Unit 1, Phase B Unit 2: 44.653833, 20.004848
- Phase B Unit 3, Phase B Unit 4: 44.670637, 20.158321
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase A Unit 1 | Operating | coal: lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1970 | 2032 (planned)[1] |
| Phase A Unit 2 | Operating | coal: lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1970 | 2032 (planned)[1] |
| Phase A Unit 3 | Operating | coal: lignite | 329 | subcritical | 1976 | – |
| Phase A Unit 4 | Operating | coal: lignite | 329 | subcritical | 1978 | – |
| Phase A Unit 5 | Operating | coal: lignite | 340 | subcritical | 1979 | – |
| Phase A Unit 6 | Operating | coal: lignite | 348 | subcritical | 1979 | – |
| Phase B Unit 1 | Operating | coal: lignite | 650 | subcritical | 1983 | – |
| Phase B Unit 2 | Operating | coal: lignite | 650 | subcritical | 1985 | – |
| Phase B Unit 3 | Cancelled | coal: lignite | 375 | supercritical | – | – |
| Phase B Unit 4 | Cancelled | coal: lignite | 375 | supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Phase A Unit 1 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase A Unit 2 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase A Unit 3 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase A Unit 4 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase A Unit 5 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase A Unit 6 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase B Unit 1 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase B Unit 2 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase B Unit 3 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
| Phase B Unit 4 | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100%] | Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Kolubara District coal basin
Background
Nikola Tesla Power Plant complex comprises the Nikola Tesla A station and Nikola Tesla B power station. The plant was commissioned between 1970 to 1985.[2][3]
By far the largest coal plant in Serbia, the complex provides approximately 47 percent of the total capacity of the electric power system of Serbia. The complex and two of its plants are named in honour of Nikola Tesla, a Serbian electrical engineer and inventor.[4]
In November 2022, the Higher Court in Belgrade ruled in favor of the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI), ordering that Elektroprivreda Srbije must cut sulphur dioxide emissions at its coal power plants. Nikola Tesla power station was among those impacted. The court utilized medical evidence stating that sulphur dioxide can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The lawsuit was filed by RERI in January 2021.[5]
Capacity and Units
The complex has two power stations:[6]
- TPP Nikola Tesla A - Six generation units with a combined capacity of 1,766 MW.[7][8] TPP Nikola Tesla A was first synchronised on March 27, 1970. Six months later, block A2 of 210 MW was added. The construction continued after five years, and by the end of 1979, the Serbian electricity industry was strengthened with four more blocks of 308.5 MW. During the revitalization of the facilities of the TENT Branch, from 2002 to 2015, the power of blocks A3, A5 and A6 was increased.[8] It appears that the power of block A4 was increased as well to 329 MW.
- TPP Nikola Tesla B - two 620 MW generation units with a total capacity of 1,240 MW. TPP Nikola Tesla B was first synchronised on March 11, 1983. Its chimney is 280 metres tall. It appears that the capacity of the units has been increased later on as EPS now reports that the two blocks have capacity of 650MW each and total of 1300 MW.[9][8]
In 2022, Plant A produced 7,824 GWh of electricity and Plant B produced 6,584 GWh.[10]
The project to install Flue Desulphurisation Units (FGDs) Units 3-6 of TENT A started started in 2017 and work was expected to be finished by the end of 2022.[11] As of January 2024, the construction of the FGD units at Units 3-6 was said to be in its final phase, with trial work to begin by April 2024. The project is implemented with financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the contractor is the Japanese company Mitsubishi.[12] In April 2024, the commissioning of the FGD units was completed.[13]
As of TENT B, the project to install FGD units was launched in 2020, with units scheduled to commence operations in 2024.[14] This has then been delayed to the end of 2025.[13] When completed, an overall 90% of Serbia's coal power output would include desulfurization.[13] Nikola Tesla B plant (units B1 and B2) was the worst offender for NOX emissions in absolute terms in the region, as per 'Comply or Close' updated report published by Bankwatch in September 2024. It emitted 1.4 times as much as the individual ceiling, in 2023. The A3-A6 units of Nikola Tesla A emitted much less but still exceeded the plant’s ceiling. Together, these were enough to bring the country into non-compliance with its NOX limits, in 2023.[15]
Coal Phase Out
In February 2023, EPS stated that it will shut down Units 1A and 1B by 2027 totalling 420 MW of capacity.[16] These are the units without FGD units.
As per Draft Energy Energy Sector Development Strategy up to 2040 published in July 2024, it appeared that units 1A and 1B will continue operation until 2032.[17] However, the final NECP adopted by Serbia in the same month still listed these units as available capacity until 2040.[18]
Fuel source
The power plants use lignite coal mined from Kolubara Mine Complex. Coal is transported from the mines via rail transport, supplying a total of 37 million tons of coal a year.[4]
In July 2022, Elektroprivreda Srbije was considering co-firing at the power station with treated waste, also known as solid recovered fuel (SRF). A call for bids on the alternate fuel design was open until August 16, 2022 and was to be completed within eight months.[19]
In January 2025, Elektroprivreda Srbije proceeded with plans to co-fire municipal waste at the power station, asking the Ministry of Environmental Protection to determine the required scope and content of an environmental impact assessment for the proposal.[20][21]
Past Expansion Plans
On June 30, 2011, Serbia's state-run power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) and Italy's Edison signed a preliminary deal to jointly develop two coal-fired generating units in Serbia generating a combined 750 megawatts. Edison pledged to build the units. A feasibility study was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. They gave no estimation of the cost.[22]
Under the proposal, Edison offered EPS a 36.4 percent stake in the new company; EPS had invested 300 million euros ($424.8 million) in 1988 until putting the construction on hold due to lack of funds.[22]
On October 20, 2011, EPS said it had signed a preliminary deal with a Chinese consortium to jointly build a 744 megawatt coal-fired unit at an estimated cost of more than 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion). Under the deal, a consortium that includes China Environmental Energy Holdings and Shenzhen Energy, and EPS, will form a joint venture for the future project in the southwestern town of Obrenovac, part of its TPP Nikola Tesla Power Plant power complex. An upgrade of the Radeljevo coal mine will feed the plant.[23]
The project was mentioned as potential in the new energy strategy of Serbia approved by the government in May 2015 and was awaiting approval from the parliament (as of July 7, 2015).
As of 2015, administrative permits for the project expired.[24]
Draft NECP (2023): No New Coal
It was reported in April 2023 that Serbia was soon expected to officially announce its intention to phase out coal as soon as possible or by the end of 2050 at the latest. The obligations to decarbonize and shut down thermal power plants are part of a bill on the ratification of a contract on guarantees for the EUR 300 million loan that Elektroprivreda Srbije secured from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).[25]
In July 2023, Serbia’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan was on public consultation. As Bankwatch summarized, no new coal plants seemed to be planned after Kostolac B3, but there was no information about the phase-out timetable for existing plants.[26] In November 2023, Energy Community Secretariat released comments and recommendations on the draft NECP.[27] Serbia should present the final draft by June 2024.[27]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240826034133/https://www.mre.gov.rs/extfile/sr/5928/Draft%2520-%2520Energy%2520Strategy%252015072024.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-08-26.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Coal-Fired Plants in Serbia," Industcards, accessed April 2016
- ↑ Elektroprivreda Srbije, "Facilities for electric power generation: Thermal Power Plants: Economic Assosiation "Thermal Power Plants Nikola Tesla" plc", Elektroprivreda Srbije website, accessed July 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Facilities for electric power generation" Elektroprivreda Srbije website, accessed July 2011.
- ↑ "Court orders EPS to reduce emissions from its thermal plants" Serbian Monitor, November 24, 2022.
- ↑ "Facilities for electric power generation" Elektroprivreda Srbije website, accessed July 2011.
- ↑ "Thermal power plants". eps.rs. unknown. Retrieved June 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Производни капацитети". www.eps.rs. unknown.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Thermal Power Plants". www.eps.rs. unknown.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Technical report 2022" (PDF). www.eps.rs. 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "TENT A – Work on flue gas desulfurization systems has started". balkangreenenergynews.com. December 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia's EPS to start trial of flue gas desulphurization facility at TPP TENT A by April". balkangreenenergynews.com. January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Mitsubishi Power commissions desulfurization system in Serbia's TENT A coal plant". balkangreenenergynews.com. April 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Nikola Tesla B Thermal Power Plant (TENT B)". www.nsenergybusiness.com. 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Comply or Close - 2024 Update" (PDF). bankwatch.org. September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "EPS sets out plan for shutting down coal power plants". balkangreenenergynews.com. February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia publishes Draft Energy Sector Development Strategy up to 2040". balkangreenenergynews.com. July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "INTEGRATED NATIONAL ENERGY AND CLIMATE PLAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA" (PDF). www.mre.gov.rs. August 2024.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 44 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "EPS intends to co-incinerate waste in two coal power plants" Balkan Green Energy News, July 12, 2022.
- ↑ “Serbia’s EPS proceeds with plans to produce energy from waste in Nikola Tesla A coal plant,” Balkan Green Energy News, January 16, 2025
- ↑ “ЕПС а.д.: Захтев за одређивање обима и садржаја студије о процени утицаја на животну средину пројекта изградње постројења за ко-сагоревање алтернативног горива у ТЕ Никола Тесла А, на блоковима А3, А4 и А5,” Република Србија Министарство заштите животне средине, January 10, 2025
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Serbia EPS, Italy Edison in 750 MW coal-fired project" Reuters, June 30, 2011.
- ↑ Maja Zuvela, "Serbia, China sign deal for coal plant, mine" Reuters, Oct. 20, 2011.
- ↑ Conversation with local activists, June 2015
- ↑ "Serbia to officially commit to phasing out coal by 2050". balkangreenenergynews.com. April 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia’s draft NECP: What is the actual plan?" Bankwatch, July 17, 2023
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 "RECOMMENDATIONS 1/2023 by the Energy Community Secretariat on the Draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). www.energy-community.org. November 2023.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 59 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
