Government of Serbia joins country’s solar boom

The Government of Serbia will install solar power plants with a total capacity of 330 kW on the roofs of its buildings and become a prosumer, which will enable it to use green energy and reduce electricity bills.

Just in a year after Serbia allowed households and firms to install solar panels and become prosumers, about 1,600 rooftop such photovoltaic systems are on the grid. Their combined capacity is 16 MW, but facilities with 263 MW more in total are in the pipeline, waiting for grid connection.

The Directorate for Joint Affairs of Republic Authorities (UZZPRO) plans to install solar panels on one of the government’s buildings in Nemanjina street in the center of Belgrade and the Palace of Serbia and SIV 3 buildings in New Belgrade.

It is part of a business plan based on the report and recommendations of the working group for the implementation of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and the strategic environmental impact assessment report accompanying Serbia’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for the period 2021-2030, with projections for 2050, the announcement reads.

Surplus electricity will be handed over to EPS

The directorate told Balkan Green Energy News it is assessing the energy potential of its roofs, but the decision was already made to install three power plants with a capacity of up to 150 kW each.

The institution explained in a written statement that it plans to hand over surplus electricity to state-owned company Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), arguing it is the best model for state entities and direct budget beneficiaries.

The project is in the final stage of preparation, it explained. EPS should issue technical conditions for the project, after which the savings and investment repayment period can be estimated with precision, according to the note.

Based on the current prices of electricity and equipment, the directorate expects the investment to be repaid within five years.

Return on investment is expected within five years

It foresees a minimum of 15 more years of electricity production, saying it would benefit the country, consumers and EPS.

At the same time, the investment will save more than RSD 15 million (EUR 128,000) annually in electricity bills, the directorate stressed.

According to the project design, currently assessed by EPS, the expected capacity of the rooftop solar power plants is 100 kW for the building in Nemanjina street, 80 kW for SIV 3 and 150 kW for the Palace of Serbia.