The Ministry of Mining and Energy announced that renewable energy sources will replace fossil fuels in 10 cities and municipalities across Serbia. This transition will include the use of geothermal energy, waste heat recovery, heat pumps, and solar-thermal systems. Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović Handavonić emphasized the importance of implementing these measures in the district heating sector to reduce harmful gas emissions, protect the environment, lower heating costs, and utilize domestic energy resources such as geothermal energy.
The project will cover Bečej, Bogatić, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Niš, Novi Pazar, Pančevo, Paraćin, and Vršac. Plans include modernizing heating substations and expanding pipeline networks to connect more residents to district heating systems in these cities.
Once completed, the project will double the production of thermal energy from renewable sources in Serbia and reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 13,200 tons annually. The next steps involve preparing tenders and selecting contractors.
Valued at over 40 million euros, the project is funded through a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, along with grants from Switzerland, Austria, and the European Union’s Regional Energy Efficiency Program.
