Visoko set to host BiH’s first energy community

The Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA) has signed the implementation agreement for the first phase of the BIHREC project – Bosnia and Herzegovina Renewable Energy Community.

The agreement officially marks the beginning of the initiative for the establishment of the first energy communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Association for Green Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Sources (H2OIE) from BiH, and Green Sustainable Solutions (GSS), based in Croatia’s capital Zagreb.

The BIHREC project is funded through the regional program “Better cohesion through development of energy communities in the Western Balkans,” which is implemented by Italian entities – Emilia-Romagna region and development agency ART-ER, according to SERDA.

The goal of the BIHREC project is to establish a sustainable local energy community that will enable citizens, public institutions, and other stakeholders to jointly participate in the production, use, and management of energy from renewable sources.

The project consists of two phases

The energy community model contributes to strengthening the energy independence of local communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the quality of the environment, SERDA added.

The first phase of the project focuses on establishing the energy community, which would operate a photovoltaic plant planned for installation in the second phase of the project.

The energy community will be established in the town of Visoko, and the planned first members include a center for children and adults with special needs of the Zenica-Doboj canton, the Mak Dizdar primary school, and the local authority in Visoko.

The project also envisages the involvement of other stakeholders, including citizens and local organizations.

Developing models for other local communities in BiH

SERDA pointed out that by implementing the project, the partners aim to develop an energy community model that can be applied to other local communities across BiH in the future. This would further contribute to the process of green transition and sustainable development in the country, the agency stressed.

Of note, another project aimed at developing energy communities, specifically renewable energy communities, is currently underway in BiH. There is a distinction between renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities.

The EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition (EU4CAET) project is jointly financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.

The EU4CAET Grant Facility launched its first call for proposals in early February.