In the first half of the year, wind and solar energy surpassed fossil fuels in electricity production across the European Union for the first time. Serbia aims to triple its share of renewable energy by 2040, as outlined in the new Energy Strategy now open for public consultation.
Professor Dejan Ivezić, head of the consultancy team responsible for the Energy Development Study of Serbia, told RTS that the draft strategy revolves around two central themes: energy security and the green transition. “Serbia must ensure a continuous and reliable energy supply for its citizens and economy, focusing on maximizing renewable energy use and decarbonizing the energy sector,” explained Professor Ivezić.
He acknowledged that an immediate shift away from coal is not practical, and coal is likely to remain part of the energy mix at least until 2040.
“The objective is to gradually reduce coal dependency as renewable energy sources are integrated, ensuring a stable electricity supply,” he added.
Professor Ivezić also mentioned that while there are scenarios for eliminating coal by 2050, this will depend heavily on technological progress and infrastructure development, such as the introduction of pumped-storage hydroelectric systems to accommodate large amounts of renewable energy.
Additionally, Professor Ivezić noted that while Serbia currently has a moratorium on nuclear power plants, there appears to be growing political support for lifting this restriction.
“Nuclear energy fits well within the vision for a decarbonized energy system. The draft strategy includes a thorough analysis of recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency and proposes advancing nuclear technology in Serbia. We could potentially see a nuclear power plant operational in Serbia after 2040,” he said.
On the topic of district heating systems, Professor Ivezić emphasized that the strategy plans to phase out the use of fuel oil and coal for district heating after 2040, and to explore options for district cooling and other advanced energy systems.
