In the story of financing green energy in Serbia, Erste Bank is an inevitable actor. The bronze sponsor of the “RES SERBIA 2026” conference, Erste Bank Serbia, rightly holds the title of one of the leaders in financing renewable energy projects – independently or in cooperation with other financial institutions, it participated with more than 400 million EUR in the financing of 800 MW of green energy, which makes more than two-thirds of all newly built renewable capacities in the country.
Erste Bank Serbia also confirms its commitment to the development of the green energy sector through a long-term partnership with the RES SERBIA conference – from the first edition in 2021 to today, when this event has become the most important regional gathering of green transition actors.
Representatives of the Bank traditionally participate in discussions on the challenges of financing green projects and support the activities carried out by the Association RES Serbia with the aim of developing the sector.
And what finances will look like in the coming years – that indispensable prerequisite for the implementation of any project – reveals in a bronze interview for the RES Serbia portal Jelena Simić Jarić, Head of Large Corporates, Public Sector and Corporate Finance of Erste Bank Serbia.
How does Erste Bank support the development of renewable energy projects and what financing programs do you offer to investors in this sector?
– Erste Bank Serbia, together with its colleagues from Erste Group, has been actively involved in the financing of RES projects from the very beginning of their development in our country. In addition to standard project financing, which is typical for such transactions, we have also financed a significant number of our clients who have developed RES projects for their own needs through classic corporate loans. In addition, we continuously cooperate with international financial institutions through which we provide special grant lines, which further encourage the energy transition and improve the competitive position of our clients.
How does the Bank see its role in the process of integration of RES into the Serbian electricity system?
– Although as a bank we do not have a direct impact on the integration of RES into the power system, we are certainly aware of the importance of RES integration for their further smooth development. As a bank, we are always available to support and finance companies in charge of the transmission and distribution system in the further development of their network. On the other hand, we actively participate in the financing of domestic companies that are market leaders, as well as the construction of substations and transmission lines, which are an indispensable part of the development of the local energy network.
What trends in the financing of green projects do you expect in the coming years in Serbia and the region?
– The financing of green projects, both in our country and in the wider region, has experienced a strong expansion in the last ten years. Over the past few years, due to the energy crisis, this growth has been even more significant. In the coming years, we expect the strong growth in financing of green projects to continue, with an increasing number of projects financed on the basis of commercial contracts. We also see a great opportunity in the financing of batteries, which are already becoming an indispensable part of all major projects, as well as more active financing of green projects based on corporate power purchase agreements, which has been a trend in Western and Central Europe for years.
