In an era of increasing integration of renewable energy sources, maintaining the stability and balance of the power system has become a matter of crucial importance for our everyday lives. As Serbia undergoes a complex process of energy transition, challenges such as the expansion of prosumers and the modernization of the grid demand smart, technically grounded, and strategically guided solutions. We spoke with Dr. Jelena Stojović Terzić, Assistant Professor at the Department of Power Systems at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, about how science is responding to these challenges, what lessons can be drawn from European practices, and the growing interest of young people in technical sciences. For the Green Women’s Network, our interlocutor also reveals why a successful green transition does not depend solely on new megawatts, but on the system’s readiness to recognize and empower the role of women in places where key decisions are made.
Your scientific and professional interests are focused on power systems and frequency regulation, which today, in the era of massive RES integration, has become a key topic. What motivated you to dedicate yourself to this field, and how do you view the dynamics of our energy transition from that perspective?
-My interest in power engineering stemmed from my earlier passion for mathematics and physics. I was drawn to a field where theoretical knowledge is directly applied to a system of great importance for everyday life. Behind something we often take for granted, the availability of electricity at any moment, there is in fact a very complex system that must continuously maintain the balance between production and consumption.
That is why frequency regulation was particularly interesting to me. It clearly shows how the system reacts to changes and how important it is to maintain stability in real time.
Today, with the increasing share of renewable energy sources, this topic is gaining even greater importance. Solar and wind power plants are essential for the energy transition, but they change the dynamics of system operation, since their production depends on weather conditions and is not always aligned with consumption. Therefore, the transition cannot be viewed only through the construction of new capacities, but also through grid development, flexibility, energy storage, digitalization, and new market mechanisms. When it comes to Serbia, I believe the most important thing is not to see the transition only as a goal to be reached, but as a process that must be carefully managed. We need to accelerate the integration of renewables, but in a way that preserves system security, considers costs, and ensures that both citizens and the economy feel the benefits of the transition.
At the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, you work as an assistant professor in the Department of Power Systems. Could you tell us which specific areas and courses you teach to undergraduate and master’s students, and how future engineers respond to RES topics? Do you notice growing interest among young people?
-At the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, I participate in teaching several courses in the field of power systems, ranging from power system analysis, distribution networks, to smart grids, power system regulation, state estimation, and SCADA systems. These courses provide students with an important technical foundation to understand how the power system functions, how it is planned and operated, and why its stability, reliability, and flexibility are among the key topics in energy.
Since last year, I have also been teaching a course that deals with the non-technical aspects of the energy transition. I think this is important, because energy today is not just a technical discipline. It is simultaneously a regulatory, economic, political, and social issue, and all these aspects influence the technical solutions applied in practice. For future engineers, it is crucial to have this broader picture, because they will work in a system where decisions are not made solely based on technical parameters.
Students’ interest in energy and RES topics is growing, which was evident last year when we had a record number of students enrolled in energy studies. This makes me especially happy, because it is people who will carry out the energy transition in practice, and without them there can be no successful transition.
You have gained rich international experience through research work in countries that are leaders in green energy, such as Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, and have been awarded for your scientific papers. Which practices from abroad did you find most useful for application in our system, and how can we adapt them to local conditions?
-International experience was important to me because I had the opportunity to see how systems that entered the energy transition earlier solve challenges that are now becoming relevant for us. Germany, for example, is one of the leaders in the transition and a good example of how important it is that the development of renewables is accompanied by the development of the grid, markets, and flexibility. On the other hand, the Netherlands is particularly interesting because it has a very high level of solar capacity per capita, even though it is not a country we would immediately associate with great solar potential. This shows that the development of RES is not only a matter of natural potential, but also of good planning, clear rules, and the ability of the system to include new participants.
Serbia entered the transition later than European countries. This does not necessarily have to be a disadvantage, because we have the opportunity to learn from their experience: to adopt what has proven to be good, but also to avoid mistakes that others have already made. Of course, no model should be simply copied – the most important thing is to adapt good practices to the local context. Serbia has its own specificities, from the structure of production and the state of the grid, to the economic and regulatory framework. That is why the transition must be based on knowledge and a realistic assessment of our system, not on simply importing foreign solutions.
In a recent interview for the portal “EUpravo Zato,” you emphasized that solar energy is extremely important for Serbia’s energy transition. From an engineering perspective, how do you assess the current expansion of small solar producers (prosumers), and what are the key technical steps to safely integrate these decentralized sources into the power system?
-I see the expansion of prosumers as a very positive trend, because it shows that citizens and businesses want to participate more actively in the energy transition. Rooftop solar panels can reduce bills, increase energy independence, and contribute to reducing emissions. Serbia has good solar potential, and I believe we can achieve even better results in this area, especially if the development of prosumers is strategically supported and recognized as an important part of the energy transition.
A major advantage of prosumers is that electricity is produced close to the point of consumption. This can be beneficial for the system, as it reduces the need to transmit energy over long distances, lowers grid losses, and can relieve certain parts of the system. However, from an engineering perspective, it is important that their development is carried out in a planned manner.
The distribution grid was long designed for one-way energy flow, from large power plants to consumers. When a large number of small producers start feeding energy into the grid, challenges can arise related to voltage, congestion, power quality, and protection operation.
Therefore, the key is not to slow down the development of prosumers, but to adapt the grid and its operation to the new reality. More detailed analyses of grid connection capacity are needed, smart meters, better visibility of the state of the distribution grid, and greater digitalization of the distribution system.
In the long run, battery storage, demand management, electric vehicles, and local flexibility will play an important role. Prosumers can be an important resource for the system, but only if they are integrated strategically and seen as active participants in the power system.
As a successful scientist and professor in a field traditionally dominated by men, how do you see the role of women in the energy transition, and what needs to change for their voices to be louder and more influential in shaping the energy future?
-Women in energy are not important only for numerical balance, but for the perspective they bring. The energy transition is a complex process, and we need different ways of thinking, different experiences, and different approaches to problem-solving.
At the faculty, we already see a significant number of female students choosing energy studies, which is an excellent sign. But the goal should not only be to increase the number of women, but to ensure they have greater influence – to lead projects, participate in public policies, and be part of the decisions that shape the energy future.
