Serbia has begun upgrading the Bajina Bašta substation from 220 kV to 400 kV as part of the approximately €115 million third section of the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor. The project includes construction of a new 400 kV switchyard and installation of two 400/220 kV transformers, each with a capacity of 400 MVA.
Trans-Balkan corridor works
The third section also covers the double-circuit 2×400 kV Obrenovac-Bajina Bašta transmission line and additional 400 kV infrastructure at Obrenovac. Transmission operator EMS expects the works to be completed during 2028. The additional transmission capacity is intended to strengthen electricity transfers through western Serbia, improve access to neighbouring markets and provide greater grid capacity for new generation.
The investment comes as Serbia targets approximately 3.5 GW of additional wind and solar capacity by 2030. For renewable projects, access to sufficient transmission capacity is increasingly relevant alongside land availability, permits and project development costs. Grid constraints can affect the ability of generators to deliver electricity during periods of high production, making transmission infrastructure an important factor in project financing and connection planning.
Support for Bistrica pumped storage
The upgraded network will also support the planned Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower plant. The facility is designed to purchase electricity during lower-price periods and return power to the market when demand and electricity prices are higher. Connection to a stronger 400 kV system could support its role in managing hourly price differences, providing balancing capacity and accommodating additional variable renewable generation.
Regional electricity transfers
The wider corridor is also planned to strengthen regional electricity trading. The fourth section is expected to extend toward Višegrad in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Pljevlja in Montenegro, with completion targeted for 2029. The expanded network is intended to increase Serbia’s ability to transfer electricity between Southeast European markets. Additional capacity could become relevant when renewable generation, hydrological conditions or power-plant outages create differences in electricity prices between neighbouring markets. For generators and electricity traders, higher transfer capacity can provide greater access to regional markets, while developers can potentially reach a broader market for future production.
Demand for grid equipment and engineering
The transmission investment forms part of a wider Serbian energy investment programme worth more than €14 billion for 2028-2035. The planned spending is expected to require equipment and services including transformers, switchgear, substations, protection systems, conductors, digital grid technologies and engineering.
This creates opportunities across the energy supply chain for grid equipment manufacturers, EPC contractors and system-integration companies, alongside investments in generation capacity. The Bajina Bašta upgrade will therefore add transmission capacity to Serbia’s electricity system as renewable generation, storage and cross-border electricity trading continue to expand.
