Nikola Tesla power station

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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 B4 (Phase B Unit 4), TENT B3 (Phase B Unit 3).

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)

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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	2045 (planned)
Phase A Unit 2	Operating	coal: lignite	210	subcritical	1970	2045 (planned)
Phase A Unit 3	Operating	coal: lignite	329	subcritical	1976	2045 (planned)
Phase A Unit 4	Operating	coal: lignite	329	subcritical	1978	2045 (planned)
Phase A Unit 5	Operating	coal: lignite	340	subcritical	1979	2045 (planned)
Phase A Unit 6	Operating	coal: lignite	348	subcritical	1979	2045 (planned)
Phase B Unit 1	Operating	coal: lignite	650	subcritical	1983	2045 (planned)
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

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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.

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.

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.

Capacity and Units

The complex has two power stations:

• TPP Nikola Tesla A - Six generation units with a combined capacity of 1,766 MW. 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. 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.

In 2022, Plant A produced 7,824 GWh of electricity and Plant B produced 6,584 GWh. In 2024, Plant A produced 7,245 GWh of electricity and Plant B produced 7,156 GWh.

Refurbishment and Environmental Upgrades

During 2021, Unit B1 of the Nikola Tesla B thermal power plant underwent a major revitalization, during which the unit was offline and did not supply electricity to the grid while overhaul works were carried out. In November 2021, it was reported that the EUR 90 million renovation—the first on the unit in around 40 years—included extensive maintenance and refurbishment works, after which Unit B1 was scheduled to resume electricity deliveries on November 25, 2021.

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. 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. In April 2024, the commissioning of the FGD units was completed.

As of TENT B, the project to install FGD units was launched in 2020, with units scheduled to commence operations in 2024. This has then been delayed to the end of 2025. When completed, an overall 90% of Serbia's coal power output would include desulfurization. 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.

EPS's 2024 environmental report stated that the flue-gas desulfurization plant for TENT A Units A3-A6 had entered trial operation in 2024 and was 100% completed by the end of the year. Performance tests carried out in March 2024 on absorber stack C1 for Units A3 and A4 and absorber stack C2 for Units A5 and A6 confirmed outlet sulphur dioxide concentrations of less than 200 mg/Nm3. The same report stated that the flue-gas desulfurization project for TENT B Units B1 and B2 was 91.10% completed at the end of 2024. EPS said the project was expected to reduce sulphur dioxide concentrations from both units to 130 mg/Nm3 and included four phases covering the limestone and gypsum system, absorber and stack system, flue-gas ducts and booster fans, and bridges for pipelines and electrical cables.

In May 2025, it was reported that Mitsubishi Power had installed all major equipment and completed 96% of construction of a EUR 220 million flue gas desulphurisation system at the Nikola Tesla B power plant, with the project financed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and including plans for EPS to supply gypsum by-products for use in local construction.

In April 2026, EPS started the trial operation of the flue gas desulfurization system at TENT B. The system, valued at approximately EUR 220 million and built by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Power with Japanese financing from JICA, was expected to reduce SO₂ emissions by up to 30 times — from approximately 80,000 tonnes per year to 4,500 tonnes. Particulate matter emissions are also expected to fall significantly, from 50 mg/m³ to below 10 mg/m³. The expected annual production of gypsum as a by-product is around 200,000 tonnes. Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović described the project as "the largest environmental project in this part of Europe." EPS director Dušan Živković stated that the project extended the lifespan of one of the most important plants in the company's portfolio. With the commissioning of the TENT B system, together with the already operating facilities at TENT A and Kostolac B, over 90% of Serbia's coal power output was covered by desulfurization technology.

Coal Phase Out

In February 2023, EPS stated that it will shut down Units 1A and 1B by 2027 totalling 420 MW of capacity. These are the units without FGD equipment.

However, 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. However, the final NECP adopted by Serbia in the same month still listed these units as available capacity until 2045, just like the other A units.

Overall, the final NECP highlighted that coal power plant capacities will be maintained and will not be dismantled until 2045, although the share of coal generation should decline from 62% in 2024 to no more than 25% by 2030.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Draft NECP (2023) and Final NECP(2024): 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).

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. In November 2023, Energy Community Secretariat released comments and recommendations on the draft NECP.

In July 2024, Serbia adopted the NECP and has aligned itself with Europe’s vision for the decarbonization of the energy sector. In the same month, Serbia also released a draft Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia up to 2040 showing no plans to build new thermal power plants.

Environmental impact

EPS's 2024 environmental report listed TENT A's 2024 emissions at 1,669.52 tonnes of particulate matter, 59,450.45 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, 9,804.12 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 9.51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. TENT B's emissions were listed at 894.01 tonnes of particulate matter, 76,640.91 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, 12,421.50 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 8.03 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Solar projects

In February 2025, Serbia Energy reported that a small rooftop solar power plant at TENT A had entered trial operation after initial testing. The solar panels were installed on the roofs of external buildings at TENT A and TENT Railway Transport, and the 948 kW facility was expected to generate more than 1 GWh of electricity annually for the plant's own consumption.

In December 2025, EPS invited bids for a preliminary feasibility study and conceptual design for a solar power plant on the ash disposal site of TENT A in Obrenovac. The planned project was intended to expand EPS's renewable energy capacity, reduce fossil-fuel dependence and remediate part of the ash disposal site; the usable area of the site was estimated at around 67.2 hectares, and the final project capacity was to be determined by the study.

Articles and Resources

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.