More than 500 participants, 45 international speakers 14 different nationalities, 8 panel discussions – that’s how the numbers would look like for the RES SERBIA 2024 conference that brought together the business community of Serbia, the region and Europe in Vrdnik on 23rd and 24th September.
The conference, which is traditionally organized for the fourth time by the Association of Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia, has now proven that it is a place where exclusives are created – at a separate event, a contract on financing and purchase of electricity for the Čibuk 2 wind farm was signed, and we also learned that the Pupin wind farm is connected to the transmission system.
The conference proved that it gathers panelists that have the answers to the current questions, and the participants heard a detailed explanation of how the other auctions planned for November will be different from last year’s. In addition to the traditional panel discussions on the development of wind farms and solar power plants, the challenges of financing and securing projects and their integration into the electricity system, and the electricity market, great attention was drawn to the new panels on education as a key factor in the energy transition, as well as ESG standards and e-mobility.
Thanks to panelists from the region, we got to know about the construction of the first wind farm owned by EPCG, Gvozd, that begins in October, about the Pljevlja-Lastva is expected to be completed by June of next year, as well as what challenges does Slovenia have with developments of RES projects.
Colić: The most important topic for the planet
The conference was officially opened by Miloš Colić, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RES Serbia, Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, Adam Cwetsch, Director of the European Green Deal Unit of the Energy Community and Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia.
Thanking the gathered for being ‘tirelessly dedicated to the most important topic for this planet at the moment’, Colić said that he believes that civilization currently has no more important job than this.
–I am impressed, indeed, as always at meetings like this, by what kind of experts we are surrounded, innovative approaches and solutions that are offered. Impressed, but also a little worried. Because, if all the answers already exist, why aren’t we already living the change we’re advocating – Colić questioned.
A part of the answers, as he mentioned, lies in courage and confidence. He pointed out that in such a momentum, we can no longer allow the ambience to be spoiled by any inconsistencies or unclear procedures.
– One is dilemma, and the other is uncertainty. Although both worry every investor, uncertainty certainly completely discourages them – Colić warned.
Masdar: At the conference, we celebrate Serbian achievement
The participants were also addressed by the CEO of Masdar Mohammed Jameel al Ramahi, whose participation in the conference in Serbia and the regions was for the first time. At a special ceremony on the sidelines of the conference, an agreement was signed on the financial closure of the 154 MW Čibuk 2 wind farm.
– That is a sign of a strong industry of renewable energy sources here in Serbia, as well as in this amazing region. There is a growing commitment to clean energy in both Masdar and Serbia. Masdar’s goal is 100 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and Serbia will play an important role on this path – Masdar’s CEO pointed out.
He reminded that Masdar and his partners set up the Čibuk 1 project, which today provides clean energy for 100,000 households, and that with the new Čibuk 2 project, they will have more than 300 MW of green capacities.
– We celebrate the success of Serbia at this conference. Masdar will be with you on the path of energy transition – he said.
Energy community: Serbia is the leader in this region
In praise of the RES SERBIA 2024 conference, our country was visited for the first time by Adam Cwetsch, Director of the European Green Deal Unit of the Energy Community. He reminded that the energy transition is a joint responsibility of Serbia, the region and Europe.
– This year, for the first time, electricity generation from wind and solar has surpassed that from fossil fuels. We see progress in decarbonization, as well as the consumption of energy from renewable sources, but the path is challenging – he pointed out, adding that Serbia is a leader in the region when it comes to the implementation of Energy Community rules, especially in the field of renewable sources.
By 2026, more than 1,500 green megawatts
Dubravka Đedović Handanović, the Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia announced that Serbia will have more than 1,500 green MW by 2026, not counting hydroelectric power plants. That’s 33 times more than in 2012 and more than two and a half times more than two years ago.
– In August we had around 390 power plants from renewable energy sources with the capacity of 753 MW, and the construction of another 750 MW of new power plants on renewable energy sources is underway – said the Minister.
According to her, the amendments to the Energy Law will lead to better functioning of the energy system and greater energy security, precisely in the process of green transition, because we will merge with the electricity market of the European Union.
– Many solutions proposed by the economy were accepted, including the introduction of the possibility for the supply of electricity to end customers by the producer, as well as the introduction of the concept of an active customer that enables the economy to decarbonize faster and reduce carbon taxes in terms of cross-border levies from the EU – explained the Minister at the opening ceremony of the conference.
Sponsors of the RES SERBIA 2024 conference
General institutional partner of the RES SERBIA 2024 conference was EPS, and the institutional support was given by Ministry of Mining and Energy, SolarPower Europe, WindEurope, Energy Community and SEEPEX.
Sponsors of the conference were Enlight, MTG, Elnos, Elektrozapad, Elicio, New Energy Solutions, ACB, WPP, Fractal, Erste Bank, Comel, Prangl, Interenergo, Nordex Acciona, CMS Beograd, BDK Advokati, EUropean Investment Bank, Siemens, Sungrow, Unicredit Bank, NLB Komercijalna Bank, Koer, ProCredit banka.
Media sponsors of the conference were eKapija, Nedeljnik, Energetski portal, E2, Održi me, and friends of the conference were Tetra Pak, IFC, GP Renewables.
Official Automotive Partner of the conference is BMW.