Chinese firms plan 1.5 GW of wind, solar for H2 production in Serbia

Chinese companies Shanghai Fengling Renewables and Zijin Mining Group (SHA:601899) are considering a potential investment in a 1,500-MW hybrid wind and solar project to produce green hydrogen in eastern Serbia, the Serbian ministry of mining and energy said on Friday.

The mega-complex would be located near the city of Bor, where Zijin has set up a copper-gold project. The aim of the renewables scheme, which could even grow to 2,000 MW, would be to enable Zijin to reduce costs, the ministry said.

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The Chinese miner would be in charge of electricity production, and any surplus not consumed by the Bor mine would be converted into hydrogen. The ministry mentioned a hydrogen production capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year.

Investments in the development and construction of the proposed power generation and hydrogen production facilities are planned to reach some EUR 2 billion (USD 2.14bn). Additionally, there is a plan to invest EUR 10 million for the construction of an industrial park for the production of wind towers, minister Dubravka Djedovic Hadnanovic said in the ministry’s statement.

In early September 2023, Shanghai Fengling Renewables registered a company named Odrzivi vetar doo in Serbia's capital Belgrade, listing installation of electrical equipment as its main activity. The ministry of mining and energy said that the firm has already begun recruiting employees in order to work on the project.

Also in September, Zijin signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry in connection with the development of a 300-MW solar project in Serbia.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.069)