History of Brestanica

Brestanica is one of the oldest operating power plants in Slovenia. Its history dates back to 1939, when the construction and installation of the first turbo-aggregate on coal technology started. The power plant sent the first kilowatt-hour of electricity to the network in July 1943.
 
The problems with the supply of coal from the Senovo and the surrounding mines began at the end of the 1960s and the then leadership decided to build a combined gas-steam power plant on primary gasoline and heating oil. This was the first combined gas-steam power plant in the territory of former Yugoslavia. The role of the power plant has changed, as it has become the producer of peak energy with its rapidly adaptable gas blocks. In addition, it has also gained an important role in the provision of system services for the power system with the possibility of starting the gas blocks from the de-energised state.
 
In the years 1998-2000, the PB 4 and PB 5 gas blocks were installed for the production of peak energy and the provision of system services for the needs of the electricity system. With their installation the power plant has achieved a significantly higher capacity and has become a modern facility for reliable power generation.
 
In 2004, Brestanica actively participated in the construction of hydroelectric power plants on the lower Sava River, and after the construction of the Boštanj Hydroelectric Power Plant, it was responsible for the maintenance of hydroelectric power plants (Boštanj, Arto - Blanca, Krško) until the end of 2015. Between 2008-2010, Brestanica built three solar power plants in the framework of the energy rehabilitation of a business facility. In the years 2006-2009, Elektro Slovenija, Elektro Celje and the Brestanica thermal power plant built a new 110 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), which replaced the previous air-insulated switchgear. In 2013, the reconstruction of the pumping station on the stream was completed with the construction of a pipeline and a new pumping station for the fire extinguishing water. Both are of key importance for Brestanica due to reliable supply of the fire extinguishing and technological water.
 
 
Important milestones:
 
Year Milestone
1939-1943 Construction of TA 1 aggregate with the power of 12.5 MW
1947 Construction of a 110 kV distribution transformer station
1955 Enlargement of the switching substation
1959-1961 Construction of the TA 2 aggregate with the power of 13.5 MW
1972-1975 Placement of the PB 1-3 gas blocks of 3 x 23 MW with the incorporation of TA 1 and TA 2 into the first gas-steam process in former Yugoslavia
1998-2000 Installation of the PB 4-5 gas blocks with the power of 2 x 114 MW
2004 Inclusion in the construction of the HPP chain on the lower Sava River
2008-2010 Construction of three small solar power plants
2009 Installation of GIS
2013 Reconstruction of a pumping station on the stream by building a new pipeline and a new pumping station for the fire extinguishing water