Energy, ecology fairs kick off, EPS announces renewable energy guarantees of origin

Minister of Environmental Protection Goran Trivan on October 3 opened the 14th International Fair of Energy, 15th International Trade Fair for Environmental Protection EcoFair, at which power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) announced a new product on the electricity market for commercial consumers – renewable energy guarantees of origin.

At the opening of the fairs titled “Power of Nature”, which last until October 5, EPS also announced EUR 860 million in investments in environmental protection by 2025.

Director of the Market Development Sector at EPS Snabdevanje Bratislav Džombić explained that green energy offered by EPS is produced with no impact on the environment.

Companies will be able to buy this electricity from EPS to show they care about the environment and to support production from renewable energy sources.

“EPS is introducing a completely ecological product to the market,” Džombić said, adding that a guarantee of origin is proof that electricity is generated from renewable sources.

The guarantee is an electronic document that demonstrates to the end-consumer that electricity is produced from renewables.

Džombić said that a green energy producer must first register with the registry of electricity producers from renewable sources in Serbia, and then to register with transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije (EMS).

The system of guarantees of origin is regulated according to EU standards and guarantees issued in Serbia will be valid in other countries, Džombić said.

Hydropower plants (HPPs) account for 30% of EPS’ electricity production and this energy is included in renewable energy guarantees of origin.

Negotiating strategy for Chapter 27 drawing to a close

Minister Goran Trivan said that the Ministry of Environmental Protection succeeded in only a year to bring preparations for the negotiating strategy for Chapter 27 to a close, adding that he expects that the negotiations would begin soon.

The minister said that he has often criticized Serbia’s energy sector for environmental damage, but now he has to praise him because EPS already invested EUR 300 million in previous years and plans to invest even more by 2025.

EPS announces construction of HPPs on Morava and Ibar rivers

EPS acting General Manager Milorad Grčić said that by the year 2025 EPS will invest EUR 600 million in environmental protection and that all of the company’s investments are implemented in accordance with the highest environmental standards.

EPS will start the construction of the Moravske Hidrolektrane hydropower plants (HPPs), as well as the Ibarske Hidroelektrane HPPs, next year, he said.

Grčić recalled that the construction of a new, B3 unit of the Kostolac thermal power plant (TPP) has begun and that the construction of the TPP Kolubara B in Kalenić will resume following a hiatus of 20-30 years.