GIZ, energy ministry back rooftop solar project at Center for Missing and Exploited Children

At the initiative of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ has donated a 6 kW rooftop solar power plant to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The donation is part of the German Development Cooperation in Serbia under the Promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in Serbia project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The photovoltaic plant was put into operation by Minister of Mining and Energy Đedović Handanović, in the presence of Daniela Funke, country director of GIZ Office Serbia, and Igor Jurić, founder of the Tijana Jurić foundation.

Đedović Handanović said the donation is an example of socially responsible action, and of the partnership between Serbian and German institutions that contributes to societal development, primarily by supporting vulnerable groups such as children with behavioral problems.

Đedović Handanović: The power plant will cover the center’s entire consumption

The power plant will provide all the electricity consumed by the center in a year and reduce its electricity consumption and CO2 emissions, but it will also help care for the youngest, she said.

The minister pointed out that the rooftop solar power plant was installed in record time and hopes that, in addition to reducing the center’s operating costs, it will also serve as a reminder to the children that they are not alone and that they have institutional support.

She noted that Serbia currently has around 2,700 registered prosumers, and that the total installed capacity of their PV facilities is 42 MW.

Funke: It is important for GIZ to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of such projects

Daniela Funke, country director of GIZ Office Serbia, said that the organization supports projects for the use of solar energy. She pointed out that the rooftop solar plant on the center in Novi Sad is a joint project of the ministry and German Development Cooperation in Serbia and one of the first pilot projects for integrated solutions.

It is important for GIZ to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of such projects, and the advantages that arise from the installation of solar power plants, so as to encourage other interested organizations and firms to take part, she stressed.

GIZ, in her words, also supports prosumers in households, homowner communities, and the private sector.

Jurić: Our cooperation should not end here

The installed solar power plant on the center’s roof will generate about 7,400 kWh of electricity a year, and the expected saving of greenhouse gas emissions for its operational period of 25 years is about 200 tons of CO2 equivalent, which is equal to about 17 hectares of trees.

According to Igor Jurić, it is very important to bring together organizations and institutions on projects that provide support to exploited children.

“I am grateful to GIZ and the ministry, especially to minister Đedović Handanović, for meeting us, for supporting us and allowing us to make this facility that helps children energy efficient, he said, and added that their cooperation should not end after this project.