The RES SERBIA 2026 Conference, one of the leading regional gatherings dedicated to renewable energy, opened today in Vrdnik, bringing together more than 600 representatives of the energy sector from Serbia and 30 countries worldwide.

In the packed hall of the Vrdnička Kula ethno complex, the conference was inaugurated by Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Grzegorz Zieliński, Director for Southeast Europe at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, and Miloš Colić, Chairman of the Management Board of RES Serbia.

Colić: Renewable Energy Projects at Risk

Miloš Colić, Chairman of the Management Board of the Association Renewable Energy Source of Serbia, warned that renewable energy projects are currently blocked or seriously endangered, while RES Serbia’s initiative for regulatory changes is still pending. He emphasized that investors have already deposited significant bank guarantees as proof of their intent and readiness to implement projects.

– Today, part of those guarantees is at risk not because investors failed to do their job, but because they are waiting for decisions and administrative action. In other words, they may suffer consequences due to delays beyond their control – Colić stressed, adding that clear procedures, predictability, and continuous, planned development are essential.

Colić reminded that the entry of new wind and solar projects into the development process has effectively been halted until 2029.

– We understand the need to protect the grid. But stopping development for several years is not a good solution. However legitimate the interests of investors may be, this is not only about their interests. Every new green megawatt that enters Serbia’s power system is a public good. It means new domestic energy, greater energy security, more competition in the market, and, in the long run, pressure toward more competitive energy prices – Colić emphasized.

He warned that if the development cycle is interrupted today, in three or four years we cannot simply press a button and get new power plants.

– Energy projects are not built overnight. The private and public sectors should not be competitors. We have different roles, but we share the same power system. Only together can we make it stable, modern, and capable of supporting Serbia’s development – Colić concluded.

Zieliński: Renewables Losing Momentum in Serbia

Grzegorz Zieliński of the EBRD highlighted that new renewable capacities generate millions of euros in investment, provide cheaper electricity, and demonstrate the private sector’s ability to deliver projects.

However, he expressed concern that renewables are losing momentum in Serbia, precisely at a time when costs have dropped dramatically, security has increased, and the effects of climate change are more visible than ever.

– Globally, investments in renewables are accelerating, while in Serbia we see a different direction, with new projects postponed until 2029. In 2025, only 5% of Serbia’s electricity was produced from wind and solar – Zieliński noted.

Still, he voiced optimism about Serbia’s future, pointing to capable companies and a strong community ready to support the energy transition.

– The question is not whether Serbia can do it, but how ambitious we will be. The EBRD is here as a partner to support this process – he concluded.

Serbia and the Western Balkans Central to Europe Strategy

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi recalled that two years ago, at RES Serbia, the financial close of the Čibuk 2 project was announced, and yesterday it was officially commissioned.

– Serbia set a clear ambition, to achieve a safer and more competitive system, and this conference has turned much of that ambition into reality. When Masdar came to Serbia, everything was just beginning, the market was taking shape, and major projects were yet to be built. Today we have 300 MW of operational capacity in Čibuk 1 and Čibuk 2 wind parks. This journey shows what this market can achieve – Al Ramahi emphasized.

He stated that Serbia and the Western Balkans are central to Masdar’s future in Europe, and the company is ready to bring more capital and investment into the wider region.

– To unlock a new wave of investment, we need clear and consistent policy, stronger grids and interconnections within the country and across the region, as well as partnerships. Čibuk is the first chapter – let’s build new ones for Serbia, the Western Balkans, and Europe – Al Ramahi urged.

Đedović Handanović: Serbia on the Right Track

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović, speaking on behalf of President Aleksandar Vučić, noted that renewables are growing rapidly worldwide. Last year alone, nearly 700 GW of new capacity was added globally, including more than 500 GW of solar. Over the past decade, global capacity has risen from 2 TW to 5 TW, with a target of 11 TW by 2030.

At the same time, electricity consumption is rising, with global demand expected to grow by 3.6% this year.

– Serbia has shown it is on the right track, with clean energy sources playing an increasingly important role. In the past four years, total renewable capacity has grown from about 400 MW to more than 1.3 GW, and by the end of this year we expect 1.5 GW – the Minister said.

She pointed out that two rounds of auctions supported 17 new solar and wind plants with a combined capacity of 1.2 GW and an investment value of 1.5 billion EUR. Nine plants are already online, and the target of at least 3.5 GW by 2030 looks not only achievable but realistic.

Addressing the postponement of new projects, she explained that 12 GW of projects are currently on the transmission system model, or 15 GW if the distribution system is included.

– This is far more than the system can integrate, which is why deadlines had to be moved to 2029 – to assess which projects remain in portfolios and free space for mature investments. The goal is not to slow development but to create a sustainable system where real projects can be built – she emphasized, adding that amendments to the Renewable Energy Law are being prepared, including the establishment of zones for accelerated renewable development.

About RES SERBIA 2026

The RES SERBIA 2026 Conference is being held for the sixth time, organized by the Association Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia. This year it gathers more than 600 participants from 30 countries and 50 domestic and international speakers. Among them are decision-makers, institutional representatives, energy companies, investors, the financial and legal sectors, equipment manufacturers, and other stakeholders in the energy transition. Over two days, discussions focus on investment, regulation, energy storage, and market changes, with emphasis on issues crucial to the further development of renewables and Serbia’s energy sector.