Serbia to launch public call in April for its first renewable energy auction

After the amendments to the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources are passed, the idea is to issue a public call in April for an auction for 400 MW from wind power plants, Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović said. On top of that, the government is working on a plan for auctions for at least 1 GW in capacity from renewables.

Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović said today that the goal of the upcoming changes to the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources is to further increase capacity and enable a safe operation of the electric power system at all times.

“Our energy sector needs investments in new capacities, above all the capacities from renewable energy sources, so that we can implement our green agenda,” she asserted at the closing ceremony of the Nordic Green – Solutions for Serbia Project, which was conducted with Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Companies from the four countries are already participating in solar and wind power plant projects, Đedović pointed out and said that Serbia wants to be a destination for their investments, primarily in green energy.

Amending relevant law to enable renewable energy auctions

The public review of the draft changes to the law has been finished. They will enable auctions for renewable electricity from new capacities, according to the minister, who underscored that the goal is to “offer a stable and predictable legislative framework” to investors.

The government wants Serbia to increase its renewable energy production capacity by two and a half times, Đedović said. She revealed that the plan is to launch a public call for the first auction, for wind power plants, in April, after the amendments are passed. Earlier, the quota was set at 400 MW.

An auction plan for the next three years is also being prepared, and at least 1.000 MW more is expected, the minister noted.

Number of prosumers in Serbia reaches nine hundred

A surge in interest is underway among citizens and companies to become prosumers or, as defined in legal terms in Serbia, buyers-producers. Their number has reached nine hundred, with a combined solar power capacity above 11 MW, Đedović said. “These are indeed small, initial steps, but in the right direction, because people have acknowledged the significance of becoming energy independent. The government is helping them in that, and so are local authorities, through subsidies,” she added.

Đedović: In the energy sector we can’t make plans for the short term

The energy efficiency program for 20,000 households in Serbia is expected to be expanded to 80,000 or 100,000, she stressed.

The government is working on an integrated national climate and energy plan or NECP and an energy development strategy until 2040 with a projection until 2050. “As you know, in the energy sector we can’t make plans for the short term. It takes time, it takes years. That is why we are focusing on projections for over 25 years ahead,” Đedović said.