Serbia is not adopting renewable energy sources quickly enough, and the hydro capacities are not fully utilized, said experts at the academic panel that concluded the RES SERBIA 2025 conference in Vrdnik.
The participants of the panel “Is Education the Best Source of Energy” discussed how to educate young people for the energy transition, said that energy provides a good perspective for employment, and that investing in education is the smartest decision of any country.
Among the panelists were Prof. Dr. Željko Đurišić, Head of the Department of Energy, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Prof. Dr. Ranko Goić, Professor at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split and owner of Fractal, Prof. Dr. Nikola Rajaković, Retired Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, President of the Association of Energy Experts and Prof. Dr. Vladimir Popović, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade.
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Nenad Jovanović, Principal Energy Modelling Consultant, Mott MacDonald.
Serbia can be energy independent
Prof. Dr. Nikola Rajaković, Retired Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, President of the Association of Energy Experts said that Serbia must adopt renewable energy sources faster.
– I would like better results, more megawatts, even gigawatts. We promised 3.5 GW in 2030. But our renewable resources have a great perspective. We must encourage education, reduce stories about nuclear energy to a minimum, because the combination of reversible hydroelectric power plants, renewable sources, hydrogen, provides an answer to all future energy needs, and what is most important, Serbia can be energy independent – emphasized Rajaković.
Prof. Dr. Nikola Rajaković, President of the Association of Energy Experts
According to him, hydropower is a significant resource that is not sufficiently utilized, and as he says, the main argument for the lack of investment in this sphere is the price of a megawatt hour from hydropower plants.
– We have brought the project on the Ibar River to the stage of realization, it is about a hundred megawatts. We were supposed to start performing, but it stopped and has been standing for 15 years. Today, when I ask why, they say it’s too expensive – said Rajaković.
According to him, the Drina has not been used either, and there is potential “even on the lower Drina”.
– Serbia has a good opportunity to bridge the periods when there is no sun and wind with water accumulations. Above Zvornik is a real reservoir, we have excellent locations. Investments in hydropower plants are expensive, no doubt, but they make sense. Only investors are impatient, they would like to get their money back quickly – emphasized Rajaković, adding that investing in education is the smartest decision of any country.
About energy in elementary schools
Prof. Dr. Željko Đurišić, Head of the Department of Energy, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, said that wind and sun will remain central technologies in renewable sources, but as he emphasized, they are not key resources, but storage.
According to him, Serbia has not fully utilized its hydro capacities.
– We have a study according to which there are 60 locations for reversible hydroelectric power plants in Serbia. Surely at least 20 is doable. In 1900, we built a hydroelectric power plant on Djetinja, four years after Niagara. We did not wait for some technologies to mature. We have a lot of technologies – emphasized Đurišić.
Prof. Dr. Željko Đurišić, Head of the Department of Energy, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade
He added that he does not know why Serbia’s energy independence is linked to nuclear energy.
– It seems absurd to me that when we had a highly developed profession, several institutes, experts said ”we can’t continue with this”. Now that we don’t have experts, we say ‘yes’. How will we be energy independent in such an energy mix with nuclear energy? Not to mention the economic aspect – pointed out Đurišić.
He also pointed out the importance of introducing energy topics into earlier education. As he pointed out, the University of Belgrade is among the 2% best in the world in the field of energy, and technical faculties enroll the best high school students, but there are not enough students.
– Big problem is what children know about energy. These subjects should be introduced during primary and secondary education as well. Why shouldn’t every school in Serbia have a photovoltaic panel on the roof? In Serbia, you have 1800 schools, 80 MW can be installed somewhere, which is not insignificant in terms of energy, and the main profit is educational. Children should be aware of rational energy management and I am sure that interest in energy would increase – the professor said.
Good job prospects in Serbia
Prof. Dr. Vladimir Popović, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, pointed out that this faculty has not had a problem with students for many years.
– About 200 master engineers acquire significant knowledge related to renewable energy sources, energy efficiency. A lot of good students are enrolled in those fields related to energy, and we had a good enrollment this year as well – emphasized Popović.
Prof. Dr. Vladimir Popović, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade
According to him, perspectives of these students are excelent, and most of them stay in the country.
– I can not remember the last time somebody asked for help in finding a job. Even 95% of them stay to work in Serbia, and work mostly in their field. The bad thing is that we are still not producing enough personnel that the market is looking for – he emphasized.
Energy is looking for skilled personnel
Prof. Dr. Ranko Goić, Professor at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split and owner of Fractal said that at the faculties there is less skilled personnel.
Prof. Dr. Ranko Goić, Professor at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split
– I have been at the university for 30 years, and I see that the quality of teaching, unfortunately, is not going in the right direction, for various reasons. One is the weakening of the teaching staff, you have a total exodus of young people from the faculty. Why? They come to my company and have twice the salary – emphasized Goić.
According to him, lack of staff is also present in companies.
– There is not enough staff as required by the energy sector. The lack of professional workforce is expressed both at the faculties and at companies – concluded the professor.
Over the course of two days, RES SERBIA 2025 conference brought together experts, decision makers, investors, equipment manufacturers, bankers, representatives of the academic community, who discussed the challenges facing the renewable energy sector in Serbia and the region.
For the fifth time in a row, the conference was organized by the Association Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia.