RES
Renewable energy sources are the foundation of the energy transition and the key to combating climate change. They represent the seventh of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals – Affordable and Clean Energy – and are increasingly recognized by countries worldwide as a strategic priority.
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Renewable energy sources are the foundation of the energy transition and the key to combating climate change. They represent the seventh of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals – Affordable and Clean Energy, and are increasingly recognized by countries worldwide as a strategic priority.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewables accounted for about 30% of global electricity generation past years, and are expected to exceed 40% by 2030.
Solar and wind are the fastest-growing sectors – in 2025 solar energy delivered more than 511 GW of new capacity, while wind added 159 GW, together accounting for nearly 97% of all global renewable energy additions.
Global investments in clean energy surpassed USD 1.8 trillion in 2024, nearly double the amount invested in fossil fuels.
More than 170 countries have adopted national targets to increase the share of renewables, with the EU, USA, and China leading the acceleration of the transition.
Renewables are not only a climate imperative – they also bring economic benefits: creating new jobs, reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports, and strengthening energy security.
RES in Serbia – Read more
Serbia is part of the global energy transition process and has recorded significant progress in the development of renewable energy sources over the past decade, particularly through the construction of wind farms. National plans, the legal framework, and international commitments clearly show that RES has become a strategic priority.
Obligations and Goals:
- By 2030, Serbia, as a member of the Energy Community, aims for renewables to account for 40.7% of total energy consumption.
- The Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) foresees a 40.1% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
Status and Statistics:
In 2024, electricity generation from RES connected to Serbia’s transmission and distribution system amounted to 12,218 GWh, representing 34.7% of gross electricity consumption.
According to Eurostat, the share of RES in gross final energy consumption was 25.8% in 2024.
- The Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (Official Gazette RS, no. 70/2024) projects growth to 29.8% by 2025 and 33.6% by 2030.
Legal Framework and Investments:
- The Law on the Use of RES (Official Gazette RS, no. 40/2021, 35/2023) introduced in 2021 a modernized incentive system based on market premiums and auctions. Amendments in 2023 further defined obligations of the transmission system operator and changes related to prosumers.
- The Energy Law (Official Gazette RS, no. 145/2024, 40/2021, 35/2023, 94/2024) regulates energy policy objectives.
The RES Incentive System Plan for 2023–2025 (Official Gazette RS, no. 40/2021): The first auctions were held in 2023, showing strong investor interest. The second round concluded in early 2025 with filled quotas for solar and wind power plants. The third round has not yet been announced. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) supported Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy in designing and implementing auctions.
- The Energy Development Strategy of Serbia until 2040, with projections to 2050: By 2030, Serbia plans to reach 3.5 GW of installed capacity and 6.87 TWh of production from wind and solar, with wind farms providing 1.77 GW (4.60 TWh) and solar plants 1.73 GW (2.27 TWh). By 2040, capacities are expected to rise to 10.97 GW with 19.72 TWh of production, of which wind contributes 3.6 GW (9.46 TWh) and solar 7.37 GW (10.26 TWh).
- The Law on Planning and Construction (Official Gazette RS, latest amendment no. 91/2025)
- The Low-Carbon Development Strategy (Official Gazette RS, no. 46/2023)
Other laws and by-laws regulating the RES sector can be found at the following link: Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia.
RES in Europe – Read more
The European Union is a global leader in the energy transition, with ambitious decarbonization goals and the development of renewable energy markets. Directives, action plans, and industrial strategies clearly define the path toward green transformation.
Directives and Targets:
The RED II Directive (2018) set a target of 32% share of RES by 2030.
The revised directive raised the threshold to at least 42.5%, with the ambition to reach 45%.
- The EU had already achieved its 20% RES target in total energy consumption by 2020.
Plans and Policies:
- The Clean Industrial Plan aims to accelerate decarbonization and strengthen the competitiveness of European industry.
- The Affordable Energy Action Plan outlines measures to reduce costs and structural reforms enabling a faster transition.
- The EU has set an ambitious goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Wind energy
824.2 MW
Wind is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in Serbia and one of the key drivers of the energy transition. The potential of wind depends not only on natural conditions but also on the technical readiness of the power system to integrate wind energy.
Wind energy
824,2 MW
Wind is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in Serbia and one of the key drivers of the energy transition. The potential of wind depends not only on natural conditions but also on the technical readiness of the power system to integrate wind energy.
The total installed wind power capacity worldwide surpassed 1 TW in 2023, marking a new historic milestone for this technology. By the end of 2024, it reached 1.17 TW, and now it reached 1.29 TW in 2025 according to the Global Wind Energy Council. China is the leader in this field, with more than 640 GW of installed capacity and a target of adding 120 GW annually. The next largest markets are the USA, Germany, India, and Brazil.
The number of operational wind turbines worldwide is estimated at more than 375,000, while in Europe, according to WindEurope, there are about 107,000.
Wind currently covers around 10% of global electricity demand, making it one of the key renewable technologies in the energy mix. Denmark traditionally leads in terms of the percentage share of wind in total electricity generation, while countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Uruguay often achieve more than 30% of their annual electricity from wind.
According to WindEurope, the total installed wind capacity in Europe amounts to 304 GW. The European countries with the largest installed wind capacity are Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
In Serbia, 13 wind farms are currently connected to the grid, with a total capacity of 824.2 MW.
More than 5.7 GW of new projects are in the development pipeline, based on requests submitted to the transmission system operator.
WindEurope estimates that Serbia’s total installed wind capacity will reach 1.8 GW by 2030.
The Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources (Official Gazette RS, no. 40/2021 and 35/2023), adopted in March 2021, represents the foundation of the modernization of the incentive system. Feed-in tariffs were replaced by market premiums and auctions, introducing competitiveness and transparency into the incentive allocation process.
Amendments to the law in 2023 enabled the launch of auctions for new capacities, the resolution of grid connection requests, and balancing between the integration of green energy and the security of the power system.
The RES Incentive System Plan for 2023–2025 (Official Gazette RS, no. 40/2021) further defined the deadlines and conditions for market premiums. The first auctions were held in 2023, when the wind quota of 400 MW was exceeded due to investor interest.
The second round of auctions was completed in 2024, with five projects receiving incentives.
The third round of auctions has not yet been held, despite expectations that it would be announced in the second half of 2025.
Solar energy
215.3 MW
Solar power is rapidly transforming industries and homes, making clean energy more accessible than ever.
Prosumers
136.5 MW
- Prosumer Analysis
Solar energy
192,2 MW
Solar power is rapidly transforming industries and homes, making clean energy more accessible than ever.
Prosumers
132,5 MW
- Prosumer Analysis
In Serbia, there is evident interest in solar energy from both citizens and businesses. Currently, 215.3 MW of solar power plants are connected to the distribution grid, while the installed capacity of prosumers amounts to 136.2 MW.
Solar energy is one of the most widespread and fastest-growing sources of renewable energy, both for industry and households.
The total installed capacity of solar PV systems worldwide surpassed 2 TW during 2024, showing strong growth of this technology across almost all regions (source: SolarPower Europe). China is the largest driver of global growth, with nearly half of all installed capacity. Other leading markets include the USA, India, Japan, and Brazil, which continue to increase investments in photovoltaic systems.
The share of solar energy in total electricity generation reached 8.8% in the first half of 2025, which is twice as much as in 2021 (source: Ember).
According to SolarPower Europe, Europe ended 2025 with 406 GW of installed solar capacity, although the target of 750 GW by 2030 remains difficult to achieve.
In Serbia, no solar power plant has yet been connected to the transmission grid. Solar energy has been recognized as a matter of public interest, and citizens and companies can become prosumers (consumer-producers) who use solar energy for their own needs, while sharing excess with the grid or storing it for later use.
Currently, 215.3 MW of solar plants are installed, while prosumers contribute an additional 136.2 MW. More than 3.9 GW of projects are under development, indicating strong investment interest in this sector.*
*Estimate based on the list of grid connection requests submitted to the Serbian’s transmission system operator
The first auctions were held in 2023, when the quota for solar power plants was set at 50 MW, but only 25.2 MW was allocated due to unmet conditions.
In the second round of auctions, all quotas were filled, and five solar power plants received support.
HYDROPOWER
2508.5 MW
80% of electricity from renewable energy sources in Serbia comes precisely from hydropower potential.
HYDROPOWER
2507 MW
80% of electricity from renewable energy sources in Serbia comes precisely from hydropower potential.
The total global conventional installed capacity of hydropower plants at the end of 2024 amounted to 1,254 GW, according to the International Hydropower Association (IHA).
In Europe, thanks to abundant rainfall, 2024 recorded the highest hydropower generation in the past decade – 680 TWh. The total installed hydropower capacity in Europe in 2024 was 263 GW, including pumped-storage plants.
The current hydropower capacity in Serbia is 2508.5 MW. In addition to these hydropower plants, there are two pumped-storage plants with a total capacity of 639 MW (source: Ministry of Mining and Energy).
The hydropower capacity owned by EPS amounts to 3,008 MW, with annual production of around 10 TWh (source: EPS).
One of the key projects for Serbia’s energy system is the Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower plant, with a planned capacity of about 650 MW. Preparatory works are scheduled to begin in spring 2026, while commissioning is planned for 2032.
RHE Bistrica will significantly contribute to increasing the flexibility and stability of the power system, enabling efficient energy storage and balancing of renewable generation, primarily wind and solar.
Currently, Serbia has one active pumped-storage hydropower plant, RHE Bajina Bašta, with a maximum capacity of 614 MW in generator mode, and an average annual production potential of more than one billion kWh of electricity.
Biogas
54.1 MW
Biogas is a type of gaseous biofuel produced by decomposing organic matter under anaerobic conditions. It is used for combined production of electricity and heat, while a by-product is high-quality fertilizer that can be applied in agriculture.
Today, there are about 18 GW of installed capacity for electricity generation from biogas worldwide, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The largest share of these capacities is located in Germany, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
Currently, there are 53 biogas power plants connected to the grid in Serbia (source: Ministry of Mining and Energy).
Biomass
2.4 MW
Biomass is a diverse and complex resource used for electricity generation, but also as biofuel for motor vehicles. Globally, there are 2350 biomass power plants in operation, with a total installed capacity of more than 145 GW (source: 360 Research Reports). Solid biomass accounts for nearly 72% of total electricity generation from biomass, while biogas contributes 18% and municipal waste 10%.
In Serbia, 2.4 MW of biomass power plants are currently connected to the grid, while several smaller projects are under development (source: Ministry of Mining and Energy).
Electromobility
The electrification of transport has become one of the most important steps in achieving global climate goals. Supporting sustainable mobility and reducing harmful gas emissions has been a global imperative in recent years.
In 2025, 20.7 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide, representing a 20% increase compared to 2024 (source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence).
During the first ten months of 2025, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), 1.5 million new electric cars were registered, accounting for 16.4% of the EU market share. The annual growth rate of electric vehicle sales was 38.6%. In the European Union, it is projected that the number of electric vehicles sold will reach 2.4 million in 2025 (source: eMobility Europe).
In Serbia, 6,000 electric vehicles were registered in 2025. Between 2020 and 2025, with the support of state subsidies, a total of 2834 electric and hybrid vehicles were purchased (source: Ministry of Environmental Protection).
Electromobility
The electrification of transport has become one of the most important steps in achieving global climate goals. Supporting sustainable mobility and reducing harmful gas emissions has been a global imperative in recent years.
In 2025, 20.7 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide, representing a 20% increase compared to 2024 (source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence).
During the first ten months of 2025, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), 1.5 million new electric cars were registered, accounting for 16.4% of the EU market share. The annual growth rate of electric vehicle sales was 38.6%. In the European Union, it is projected that the number of electric vehicles sold will reach 2.4 million in 2025 (source: eMobility Europe).
In Serbia, 6,000 electric vehicles were registered in 2025. Between 2020 and 2025, with the support of state subsidies, a total of 2,834 electric and hybrid vehicles were purchased (source: Ministry of Environmental Protection).