The Association of RES in Serbia (RES Serbia) conducted a comprehensive analysis of prosumers, a category of electricity consumers who generate their own power using renewable sources and contribute any excess to the grid. This analysis release highlights the significant growth of prosumers in Serbia and dives deeper into the breakdown of this category.
In the Register of Prosumers of the Electric Distribution of Serbia, approximately 3,000 prosumers with a total installed capacity of nearly 48 MW are registered. This indicates that over the course of a year, from April 2023 to April 2024, the total power of consumer-producers of electrical energy increased approximately by about four times.
The number of electricity consumer-producers in Serbia is growing day by day – currently, there are approximately 3,000 prosumers registered in the Register of Prosumers of Electric Distribution of Serbia, with a total installed capacity of nearly 48 MW. This means that over the course of a year, from April 2023 to April 2024, the total power of prosumers increased nearly four times. This continues the positive trend of increasing the number of consumer-producers in Serbia since April 2021, when the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources was adopted and the concept of prosumers was introduced.
The majority of the nearly 3,000 prosumers are households, numbering 2,128. The category with the least number of prosumers is residential communities – only three buildings have opted for this form of electricity production. Ranked second in terms of number, but clearly leading in installed capacity, are prosumers categorized as Other Consumer-Producers. There are 753 of them with an installed capacity of 30.5 MW.
This category was specifically analyzed by the Association of RES in Serbia. The analysis shows that the most numerous are telecommunication facilities, totaling 326 with an installed capacity of 3.4 MW, whereas the largest installed capacity – 17.8 MW – is attributed to 119 industrial facilities. It is also interesting to note that among the category of Other Consumer-Producers, there are 10 churches, 9 schools, and 5 kindergartens.
Total installed capacity: 48 MW
The total installed capacity of all consumer-producers (prosumers) in the Republic of Serbia is approximately 48 MW.
Category of consumer-producers represented by households counts 2,128 households with a total installed capacity of production facilities amounting to 17.3 MW.
Consumer-producers represented by residential communities total three – in Subotica, Pančevo, and Niš – with solar power plant installed capacity of 69.5 kW.
The category of Other Consumer-Producers consists of 753 producers, of which 705 are legal entities and 48 are individuals. The total installed capacity of this category amounts to 30.5 MW. The largest in this group, and also the largest prosumer in Serbia, is the company Toyo Tires from Inđija with an installed capacity of 7.5 MW.
Analysis of the Other Consumer-Producers Category: From Kindergartens to Industrial Facilities
Considering the significant interest of economic entities in the consumer-producer status, the Association of RES in Serbia conducted an analysis of the category of Other Consumer-Producers that are not households or residential communities. In this category, the majority consists of telecommunication facilities, totaling 326 with an installed capacity of 3.4 MW, while the largest installed capacity, 17.8 MW, is attributed to 119 industrial facilities. Other significant economic entities in terms of quantity include markets, restaurants, and shopping centers, totaling 220 with an installed capacity of 7.2 MW. Government institutions represent only 2% of registered prosumers, and it is interesting to note that the category of Other Consumer-Producers includes 10 churches, 9 schools, and 5 kindergartens.
The table showing the total number of registered prosumers by categories and their installed capacity (in kW) is provided below:
| Individuals | Industrial Facilities | Other Economic Facilities | Government Institutions | Telecommunications Facilities | Churches | Schools | Kindergartens | |
| Total numbers: | 48 | 119 | 220 | 16 | 326 | 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Installed capacity (in kW): | 781.04 | 17,892.36 | 7,246.01 | 385.28 | 3,485.15 | 209.59 | 282.7 | 119.45 |
The following text contains graphical representations of the analysis based on installed capacity (in kW) and the percentage breakdown of subcategories of consumer-producers that are not households or residential communities.
To recap, prosumers in the Republic of Serbia utilize the generated electrical energy for their own needs and transmit surplus energy to the electric distribution system, which functions as a virtual battery, enabling each end consumer to participate in energy production for their own use, in accordance with legislation defining them as consumer-producers of electrical energy.
Prosumer Focus at the RES Serbia Conference 2024
The growing importance of prosumers will be one a key topic at the upcoming RES Serbia Conference, scheduled for September 23rd and 24th in Vrdnik, Serbia. This prestigious annual event convenes global, regional, and local leaders in the green business sector. The conference provides insightful discussions on energy transition, project implementation, financing options, and the future of electric mobility.
This year RES Serbia Conference promises a dynamic lineup of panels, including:
- Energy Transition in the Region
- Experiences of RES Auction Winners
- Challenges and Risks in RES Project Development
- Electromobility and Sustainable Transportation
- Financing of RES Projects
- Electricity Market Trends
The RES Serbia Conference serves as a valuable platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to convene and explore the latest advancements and challenges in the green business sector in Serbia and the region.
Photo: Unsplash/Nuno Marques