In the last 50 years, there has not been enough investment in the energy sector, which definitely cannot and must not rely on thermal power plants. According to data from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the goal is to provide 5 gigawatts of electricity from solar and wind energy by 2030
Serbia has great potential to generate electricity from the wind and the sun, so the construction of new power plants that use these renewable energy sources could improve the situation a lot ~ explains Mrs Lazendić , while revealing the dynamics of the construction and commissioning of new wind power plants.
Serbia today imports electricity. Did we get into this situation because we are not utilising our capacities?
– The thermal power plants that make up about 70% of the production capacity in the energy mix of the Republic of Serbia are more than 30 years old, and we can expect that their failures will become more frequent, and maintenance will become more difficult.
So, it is clear that we cannot base the future development of the energy sector on these capacities, but rather we must turn to the construction of new installations for the production of electricity, energy efficiency and saving electricity in industry and in households. Investors have already recognised South Banat as a good location for the construction of wind power plants, while the south and southeast of the country are suitable for solar power.
Do you believe that green electricity from wind farms Alibunar 1 and 2 can be on the grid as early as 2024?
– The construction of wind farms Alibunar 1 and 2, with a planned total installed capacity of 168MW, is a priority both for the local team and for the entire team of the Emergy company that joined the development of these projects in 2021. I am proud that, with our joint efforts, we have managed to secure all the necessary permits, we are in the process of securing financing, the majority of contractors have been chosen through transparent procedures, as have suppliers of wind turbines. Construction is planned for the beginning of the construction season in 2023, and the delivery of green energy to the grid is planned for the end of 2024.
Investors have recognised South Banat as a good location for the construction of wind power plants, while the south and southeast of the country are suitable for solar power
At the same time, we will continue the development of the Banat 1-5 wind power complex located in South Banat, with a planned total installed capacity of 570MW. They are at various stages of development, and we plan to connect them to the grid successively between 2025 and 2027. The development project of our first solar power plant in Žablje, with a planned installed capacity of 80MW, is in preparation of planning and technical documentation and is also one of the business priorities for the coming period.
How much does the support of an experienced investor such as Emergy, the Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade and the Nordic Business Alliance mean to you in realising your goals?
– I am grateful for all the knowhow, expertise and experience I gain every day with my colleagues from Emergy. They are specialised in developing electricity markets and I am glad that they recognised Serbia as a reliable partner for the realisation of an impressive portfolio. Support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade, headed by H E Jørn Eugene Gjelstad and his team, has been present since the very beginning of this partnership, and the Nordic Business Alliance promotes the very values that are our trademark: sustainability, the Green Agenda, and environmental protection. I am especially looking forward to the Western Balkans Renewable Energy Conference, where the representative of Emergy from Norway will share his impressions of the implementation of Norwegian energy standards in Serbia.