Wind and solar power saved us this summer – RES SERBIA 2026 conference ends

Wind and solar energy saved us this summer - this was the conclusion made on the second day of the RES SERBIA 2026 conference, which wrapped up yesterday in Vrdnik. While this year was deemed perhaps the most challenging for the energy sector since the conference began, the message is clear that Serbia’s renewable energy market is not saturated, and holding the third round of auctions for market premiums for renewable energy sources is crucial.

Discussions on the second day focused on green energy financing, highlighting that projects with a total capacity of 1.2 GW have the potential to reach financial close. Challenges within the electricity distribution system and the topic of electromobility were also addressed.

Energy investments profitable

Milos Mladenovic, CEO of SEEPEX, noted that while enthusiasm among solar power plant project owners had waned, energy remained a commodity for which there would be long-term demand.

– I would advise bringing that enthusiasm back. Solar and wind power kept us going in August, and without them, we would have faced serious trouble. Investments in energy, much like those in food and water, will not only be profitable but also need to become socially acceptable – Mladenovic assessed.

He added that regulatory changes were underway to make co-location projects, which combine wind, solar, and energy storage, both feasible and bankable.

Challenges for the electricity distribution sector

Dalibor Nikolic, Director of the Technical System at Elektrodistribucija Srbije (Electricity Distribution of Serbia), stated that the distribution system had seen a 20 percent increase over the preceding year in both the number and capacity of power plants. He noted that there were 498 power plants connected to the grid with a total installed capacity of 540 MW, alongside 8,500 prosumers with an installed capacity of 160 MW.

Addressing the challenges facing the electricity distribution sector, he highlighted the limit placed on power injection from the distribution system into the transmission system, which is capped at 16 MW.

– A criterion has emerged in Serbia that, to the best of my knowledge, does not exist anywhere else in Europe, and it presents a challenge for us. We expect that in certain areas, such as Banat and southern Serbia, these figures will exceed 30 MW – Nikolic emphasized.

Importance of holding the third round of auctions

Svetlana Cerovic, Head of Financing and Advisory at UniCredit Bank, emphasized the importance of holding the third round of auctions for market premiums for renewable energy sources. In the interim, she noted, corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) could serve as a driver for new projects.

– According to our analysis, 1.2 GW worth of projects have the potential to reach financial close, that is, the signing of financing agreements. Most have secured long-term power off-take arrangements, and we hope that at least one of these transactions will be finalized this year – Cerovic pointed out.

She added that project financing would remain the dominant model for renewable energy projects in the near future, while corporate green bonds would support a broader range of financing sources.

More and more companies turning to electric delivery vehicles

Lazar Radanov-Radicev, New Business Development Director at Delta Auto Group, discussed the trend of companies requiring delivery services increasingly turning to light electric commercial vehicles.

– That fleet can efficiently switch to electric power, yielding fantastic savings, especially given the surge in fuel prices, said Radanov-Radicev, adding that charging was not an issue, as those vehicles covered approximately 100–110 km per day.

He highlighted the need to update legal regulations to keep pace with new technologies and noted that, in addition to subsidies, non-monetary incentives and rewards for various forms of energy efficiency would also be beneficial.

– It is also necessary to raise public awareness regarding the potential for more efficient energy use, lower driving costs, and better home energy management – he emphasized.

The conference in Vrdnik, organized for the sixth time by the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Serbia Association, brought together over 600 participants from the energy sector in Serbia and 30 other countries. Over the course of two days, discussions covered investments, regulations, energy storage, and market changes, focusing on issues crucial to the further development of renewable energy sources and the energy sector in Serbia and the region.

Obnovljivi izvori energije Srbije

Berza SEEPEX a.d. Beograd

UniCredit Bank Srbija a.d. Beograd

Elektrodistribucija Srbije d.o.o. Beograd

Delta motors doo Beograd

Delta Automoto d.o.o. Novi Beograd

RES Serbia

SEEPEX

Delta Auto Group

UniCredit Bank

Elektrodistribucija Srbije

Miloš Mladenović

Svetlana Cerović

Dalibor Nikolić

Lazar Radanov Radičev

RES Serbia 2026 Conference Vrdnik

renewable energy sources

solar energy

wind energy

light commercial electric vehicles

RES auctions