The Nikola Tesla project, located in Belgrade, Serbia, stands as a key part of an EU-driven initiative aimed at modernising existing coal plants to significantly reduce emissions. Launched in 2019, this ambitious endeavor has united a consortium of industry experts, including Platicon Projects, Solico, Hebetec Engineering, and Deco Engineering. Together, we have combined our collective strengths to achieve remarkable results in this critical effort.
Solico has played a leading role in the project, delivering expert structural engineering, FEA (Finite Element Analysis), and advanced calculations for two nearly identical chimneys. Our scope covered the verification of the entire lifting operation, including the lifting frame and support rings. These critical components were constructed from steel, while the chimneys themselves were built using glass fibre composites, offering high strength with reduced weight.
The twin chimneys are enclosed in concrete and stretch from an elevation of +35 metres to +170 metres. The project’s extreme vertical scale posed complex engineering challenges, particularly around lifting logistics, structural stability, and composite performance under load.
Given the site’s seismic risk, Solico’s engineers performed detailed FEA simulations and structural assessments to account for various load cases, including earthquake and wind combinations. These calculations ensured the integrity and safety of the structure under all operating conditions.
We are proud to contribute to this transformative project, which showcases the power of advanced composite materials, precision engineering, and data-driven FEA analysis in creating cleaner, more sustainable energy infrastructure.
