The OIE SERBIA 2024 conference officially started today in Vrdnik, as the most important regional event dedicated to renewable energy sources. This two-day conference brought together key representatives of state and international institutions, leading investors, equipment manufacturers, as well as financial institutions that support projects in the RES sector.
The conference is dedicated to key topics of the energy transition, including the integration of renewable energy sources into the power system, the development of wind and solar power plants, as well as the challenges faced by market auction participants. One of the main topics will be the market competition between European producers of wind generators and solar panels against Chinese companies, as well as predictions about the movement of electricity prices in the coming period. In addition to the panel on financing and securing projects in the field of RES, electromobility, ESG strategies and sustainable development in transport will also be discussed.
Among the speakers at the opening ceremony were Miloš Colić, President of the Board of Directors of OIE Serbia, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, Adam Cwetsch, Director of the European Green Deal in the Energy Community, and Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia.
As the minister pointed out on the first day of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, Serbia’s energy system is changing, but not at the expense of security, she pointed out on this occasion. She presented the results achieved so far in the field of RES. First of all, the first auctions for market premiums, which were the largest simultaneously held in our region and conducted according to the European model, were successfully realized. Investors recognized the improvement of the regulatory framework, which resulted in obtaining more than 716 megawatts of new capacities from renewable energy sources (RES) and investments of over one billion euros in the Serbian economy.
Currently, 389 RES power plants with a total capacity of 753 megawatts are online, while more than 750 megawatts of new RES power plants are under construction. By 2026, Serbia is expected to have more than 1,500 “green” megawatts, not counting the largest hydroelectric plants. That is 33 times more than in 2012, and over 2.5 times more than in 2022.
The minister also pointed out that the completion of 94 megawatts of wind power plants from last year’s auctions is expected, which will make the total power of wind power plants in the country exceed 600 megawatts, while two years ago there were 400 megawatts.
Solar power plants have exceeded 100 megawatts for the first time, and by the end of the year it is expected to reach 150 megawatts from the sun, compared to only 20 megawatts two years ago.
Although these are significant developments, the minister emphasizes that it is not enough, and that it is necessary to create even more favorable conditions in order to encourage state capacities, as well as private investors and buyer-producers, whose number has increased from 400 to 3,600. The second round of auctions, planned for the next two months, is being prepared.
On the second day, the panel discussion begins at 10 a.m. on the topic “Challenges of financing and insurance of RES projects”, and e-mobility, solar energy will also be discussed, while the conference traditionally closes with a panel on the electricity market.
Energy portal
Source: energetskiportal.rs
