Organized by Go2Power, and supported by the Association RES Serbia, the workshop Battery Energy Storage Systems: Revolution, Investment or Inevitability was held on June 9th. The event brought together representatives from various sectors, and the focus was on regulations, market opportunities and technological development of energy storage in Serbia and beyond, and the panelists also answered the key question: are battery storages a passing trend or a necessary element of the modern energy transition?
Goran Vukojević, CEO of Go2Power, thanked the Association for the opportunity to jointly organize such an important event, emphasizing that the event was the result of discussions among the members of the Association. In addition to RES Serbia members, the audience included numerous guests from industry, academia and other sectors.
Go2Power emphasized that the Green Agenda and its goals are an absolute priority in the strategic development of the company. The international projects in which they participate are particularly highlighted, including the Amala AI Data Center in the UAE, as well as participation in Horizon EU projects. As they say, the basic principle that guides them is the combination of innovation and knowledge, with the aim of achieving a more efficient and stable energy transition.
Are batteries a necessity or just a trend?
The question of whether batteries are a necessity or just a trend was answered by the participants of the first panel: Prof. Dr. Željko Đurišić, professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, then Nebojša Vučinić, Director of the Development Directorate at Elektromreža Srbije, as well as Nikola Oklobdžija, Director for Eastern Europe at Fortis Energy. The panel was moderated by Goran Vukojević, Director of Go2Power.
The focus of the discussion was on applicable regulations such as the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources, since according to the same Law, Elektromreža Srbije can postpone the connection of power plants with larger capacities if there is no adequate electricity storage.
Nikola Oklobdžija emphasized that investment in battery storage is inevitable, primarily due to regulatory obligations, but also due to the practical needs of the system. He presented the Noćaj 1 and Noćaj 2 projects, which recently received construction permits and represent one of the first major steps in this direction in Serbia.
Prof. Dr. Željko Đurišić reminded that batteries are not the only storage system and that other technologies must be considered. He emphasized that storage can also be economically profitable.
The speakers agreed that predictability is key for investors, and that regulations must be clear and long-term. Banks, investors and legislators must work together to create a stable environment, and they also emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation between all stakeholders: from the state, through designers, to financial institutions.
The panel’s conclusion was clear: battery energy storage is not a matter of choice, but a prerequisite for a sustainable energy future for Serbia.
Practical Experiences – Market, Regulatory and Technical Aspects
The second panel discussed practical challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of battery energy storage, with a special focus on global and regional experiences. The panel was moderated by Milorad Zečević, Marketing Director at Go2Power, and included: Ethan Hu, Sungrow representative Nenad Uzelac, Global Research Director at G&W Electric Co. and Andrija Oros, Energy Storage Manager at CWP.
The panel was opened by Ethan Hu, who shared his experiences working in the Middle East, especially in the United Arab Emirates, where large data centers such as the AMALA AI project are currently being developed, in the development of which companies from Serbia are also participating. He emphasized that the Middle East is increasingly turning to clean energy sources, such as green hydrogen and ammonia, as a strategic alternative to the depletion of fossil resources.
Nenad Uzelac referred to the situation in the United States, where states such as California are leaders in terms of installed battery storage capacities. However, he warned of the challenges that accompany the rapid expansion, especially safety aspects such as fires that have become a common occurrence in the US.
– Battery storage is turning out to be like a Swiss army knife for the energy system, – said Uzelac, vividly illustrating the multi-purpose value of these systems: from grid balancing, through backup energy, to improving system resilience. He particularly emphasized the importance of investing in infrastructure resilience and reliability.
Andrija Oros brought a regional perspective to the discussion, emphasizing that forward planning is key for every project, not just battery storage, but projects in general. He emphasized that Romania is currently among the best in the region when it comes to regulating this area, quickly and efficiently adapting its legislative framework to the real needs of the electricity system. He added that timely regulation and understanding of market mechanisms are proving to be key factors for the successful implementation of energy storage in Southeast Europe.
The panelists concluded that it is very important to follow trends, but also to adapt each project to local demand and resources.
Finally, the organizers reminded that this is not the only opportunity for attendees to gather, and invited all attendees to register for the RES SERBIA 2025 conference, which will be held this year on September 17th and 18th in Vrdnik.