Several cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina regularly rank among the most polluted in the world, particularly during winter months. In an effort to curb air pollution and reduce reliance on coal, the country is gradually expanding its use of renewable energy sources. 

The latest and most significant addition is Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest wind farm, constructed and owned by a Chinese company in the southern part of the country.

The wind farm is located on the hill of Ivovik, about 50 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, an area known for strong and consistent winds. Those conditions were a key factor in the decision to build the project at this location. 

Rising above the surrounding landscape, the facility's towering turbines operate in dense fog and high winds, converting natural energy into much-needed electricity for the country.

The Ivovik wind farm consists of 20 large wind turbine generators with a combined installed capacity of 84 megawatts. According to project data, that is enough electricity to supply more than 80,000 households in central Bosnia. Beyond energy production, the project has also delivered economic benefits to the local community.

Wang Zhiqiang, CEO of the Ivovik Wind Farm, said the construction phase created work for locals and had a positive impact on spending in the area. "During our construction process, we have provided over 100 job opportunities for the local community and boosted local consumption", he said.

The project's location was selected in cooperation with Bosnian authorities, taking environmental and social factors into account. 

Wang said the wind farm was intentionally built away from urban areas to avoid disrupting residents' daily lives. He added that the favourable wind conditions allow the project to generate profits that will be shared with local authorities and communities.

Large-scale renewable energy projects remain relatively rare in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but experts say such investments are essential. The country has committed to a full transition to green energy sources by 2050, a goal that will require major structural changes in the power sector.

Mustafa Musić, a professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sarajevo, said Bosnia currently has around 2,100 megawatts of installed capacity in coal-fired thermal power plants. 

He said those facilities should be gradually shut down by mid-century. To replace them, Musić noted, the country would need to install between 7,000 and 8,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, depending on the technologies used.

For a country of just over three million people, such an undertaking would require more financial resources than the state budget can provide. 

As a result, cooperation with foreign and private investors is increasingly seen as the most viable path forward, with the promise of cleaner air and improved living conditions for communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.