In just two years, Serbia has more than doubled its share of renewable energy, with wind energy leading the charge. The Minister of Mining and Energy announces that by the end of the decade, half of the country’s energy production will come from green sources.
Currently, Serbia has 390 large renewable energy plants, totaling over 750 megawatts, with plans to double that capacity under construction. Additionally, around 3,600 households, businesses, and institutions are generating their own electricity from solar panels. The new Law on Energy introduces significant innovations aimed at facilitating green investments.
“We are enabling electricity supply to end customers by producers through power purchase agreements. The introduction of active customer status will help accelerate decarbonization, benefiting us all with a cleaner environment and lower taxes,” says Dubravka Đedović Handanović, the Minister of Mining and Energy.
Miloš Čolić from the Association of Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia notes that some cities lack registered buyer-producers. “We need to ensure our voice is heard in municipalities like Surdulica, Preševo, and Trgovište, where there are no registered buyer-producers.”
Next year, Kostolac will see the launch of the first EPS wind farm. Investments have largely focused on wind energy, and during the “Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia” conference in Vrdnik, new investments in solar and hydro energy were announced.
“We view 2030 as a pivotal year for decarbonization and significantly increasing the share of renewable sources, targeting 45% by then,” says Dušan Živković, general director of EPS.
Muhamed Jamala el Ramahija from Masdar emphasizes Serbia’s critical role in green energy development in the Western Balkans. “Our company is committed to advancing renewable projects in Serbia,” he adds.
Investments in green energy are also central to a recent agreement signed with the United States, with plans for a similar agreement with Azerbaijan soon.