The Government of Serbia adopted the bills on renewable energy sources, energy, energy efficiency, and mining, and sent them to the Parliament for adoption.

Given the changes it brings, such as auctions for the allocation of premiums and conditions for the development of the free electricity market of renewable energy sources, the renewable energy sources bill has attracted the most attention. However, it retains some feed-in tariffs, a supporting mechanism introduced by the Serbian Government almost a decade ago to support the first investments in renewables. In the new law, the feed-in tariffs will be applied for new solar power plants below 500kW and for wind power plants up to 3 MW.

The bill will create conditions to speed up the development of green energy projects including the construction of wind farms and solar power plants, but also the installation of solar panels on the roofs of houses and companies to enable citizens and businesses to produce electricity for self-consumption, and became prosumers.

The bill on renewables introduces auctions, and premiums, but also keeps feed-in tariffs

Leading experts from Serbia and Europe will discuss what the upcoming law brings for the solar energy sector and the investments in solar power plants that are in the pipeline at the First Big Conference on Solar Energy in Serbia, organized by Balkan Green Energy News. The event will be held in Belgrade on April 14 with the following agenda.

The public consultation on the guidelines for the proposed law on renewable energy lasted from December 31 to January 12. From January 21 to February 9 the Ministry of mining and energy held a public debate on the draft law on renewable energy sources, amendments to the Law on Energy, the draft law on energy efficiency and the rational use of energy, and amendments to the Law on Mining and Geological Research.

A public discussion event was held at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. In the same period, Balkan Green Energy News organized a roundtable entitled ‘Wind industry in Serbia between auctions and the market – 2,000 MW of green energy awaiting a clear signal from the state’.

Serbia shifting towards green energy and the green economy – Mihajlović

Zorana Mihajlović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy said the new legal framework enables investments and Serbia’s shift towards green energy and the green economy.

This is the year when Serbia has to design how to produce enough electricity and heat, how to secure enough natural gas, oil, and oil derivatives while achieving sustainable development with the green economy and green energy, she said.

The laws open the door for large investors to come to Serbia

According to Mihajlović, the laws will enable it because they are opening the door to large investors to work in Serbia together with state-owned companies. They also enable citizens, in addition to being consumers, to become energy producers, by installing solar panels on their homes, but also to replace windows and doors and lower their electricity and heat bills, she asserted.

Mihajlović added the new laws secure greater protection for the vulnerable consumers of electricity, gas, and heat.

The law on renewable energy sources is especially important as they are the future in the energy sector, the Deputy PM stressed.

Energy from coal-fired power plants will be more and more expensive

It is necessary not only to build new hydropower plants, large and medium ones above all, but also to install more wind and solar power plants, and to use more biomass in heating plants, she said.

Mihajlović said the new laws would create conditions for new jobs.

They will allow the country to embark on the path of climate-neutral development and green energy, given that energy from coal-fired power plants will be more and more expensive, she noted.