The foundation construction of 48 giant wind turbines on the Danube River wind farm in the northern Serbian city of Panchevo officially broke ground on April 15, 2026. The Vitro 300 MW wind power project, fully controlled by PowerChina, not only broke the country's new energy single unit installation record, but also became a key milestone for China's clean energy layout in Central and Eastern Europe.

Filling the Energy Gap and Geopolitical Synergy

As the largest designed wind farm in Serbia, the Vitello project has a total investment of approximately 600 million euros and is expected to enter commercial operation in early 2028. According to the latest "2026-2030 Electricity Development Plan" released by the Serbian Ministry of Energy, the country is facing severe energy transition pressure - currently, about 70% of its electricity supply still relies on coal, and retirement plans for old thermal power plants have been put on the agenda. After the project is put into operation, the annual power generation will reach 774 million kilowatt hours, which can meet the electricity needs of about 200000 households and directly increase the proportion of renewable energy in Serbia by 1.5 percentage points.

For PowerChina, this is not only the first energy investment project in Serbia, but also a tangible manifestation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia. The project site is located adjacent to the Belgrade Industrial Circle, and the green electricity generated will be directly connected to the national backbone network through the newly built 110 kV transmission line, significantly reducing the region's dependence on imported electricity. Analysts point out that in the context of the upcoming full implementation of the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, this project will help Serbia's industrial exports avoid potential carbon tariff barriers.

Technical Standards and Economic Accounts

Unlike the traditional engineering contracting model, the Vittorio project has achieved full chain output of Chinese technology, equipment, and management. The project adopts 48 6.25-megawatt direct drive permanent magnet wind turbines, jointly supplied by Goldwind Technology and Electric Wind Power, and has customized anti turbulence design for the complex wind direction shear in the Panchevo area. Data shows that the localization rate of the unit has reached 100%, which reduces equipment costs by 18% compared to purchasing similar European models, and shortens maintenance response time to within 24 hours. Keywords: new energy, wind power projects

In terms of economic calculation, the internal rate of return of the project is expected to reach 9.2%. In addition to electricity sales revenue, the project can generate approximately 1.2 million tons of certified emission reductions annually. Based on current European carbon trading market prices, the additional carbon benefits will exceed 15 million euros. The PowerChina project manager stated on site that the team has introduced digital twin construction technology to control construction errors at the millimeter level, aiming to create a benchmark project in Central and Eastern Europe.Editor/Cheng Liting