Almost all citizens in BiH interested in installing solar panels

Interest is huge among the citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the installation of solar panels and to become prosumers, according to data from a survey conducted by the Operator for Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration (Operator za OIEiEK). In a bid to meet the demand, the institution said it would roll out subsidies and measures to eliminate the barriers in the process.

Operator za OIEiEK conducted a public opinion poll from September to December on solar energy and the prosumer status. In total, 97.3% of respondents in the Federation of BiH have expressed interest in setting up photovoltaic devices, according to the report on the results of the survey.

The greatest interest was demonstrated in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (19.8%), followed by Sarajevo Canton (19.6%) and Zenica-Doboj Canton (16.1%). FBiH is one of the two autonomous entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina and it consists of ten cantons. The other one is called the Republic of Srpska.

If subsidies are involved, 99% of respondents would be willing to get solar panels for their homes

If subsidies are involved, 99% of respondents would be willing to get solar panels for their homes. An average of 50% of the total investment is sufficient for the citizens to make the decision.

The operator said the goal of the survey was to obtain information on the views of citizens on one-off financial aid for the construction of solar power plants, which it is authorized to provide under the new Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration.

The operator is tasked with awarding subsidies to citizens

The legislation stipulates that the operator is responsible for subsidizing the construction of prosumer facilities in households.

The procedure will be defined by a cofinancing program for households, which will be adopted by the operator.

Obstacles: Lack of money, complicated procedures and information

Participants in the poll pointed to the lack of financial resources and the unclear and complicated permitting procedure as the biggest obstacles.

They believe that the public isn’t informed enough about the procedures and benefits.

The goal is to unify the procedure for installing solar panels for households in Federation of BiH

The operator said it would hold workshops and joint meetings with representatives of cantonal ministries, local authorities and the media. In addition, the public will be informed through a campaign, it added.

As for the requested simplification of the procedure, the operator said it would request to unify it for rooftop photovoltaics for households in the entire Federation of BiH.