Only about 0.1 percent of households in Serbia are registered as prosumers, compared to over 0.8 percent in Croatia and as much as 12 percent in Germany. According to data from the end of 2023, Serbia ranks lowest in the region in terms of total installed solar power capacity, according to the recent study “Prosumers in Serbia: Current Situation, Challenges, and Recommendations for Improvement.”
The study highlights several barriers for consumers, including complex administrative procedures, underdeveloped infrastructure, limited access to financial incentives, and low public awareness of the benefits of prosumer models.
“The consumer model offers multiple benefits — from reducing electricity costs and harmful emissions to enhancing energy independence and creating new business opportunities,” the study concludes. However, it stresses that unlocking this potential requires decisive reforms and ongoing support for all stakeholders.
Serbia enjoys 30 percent more solar radiation than Central Europe, with over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Despite households consuming 48 percent of the country’s electricity, only 0.082 percent have prosumer status.
The study offers a range of recommendations categorized as short-, medium-, and long-term measures. These include simplifying administrative procedures and improving transparency in grid connection, optimizing incentives and developing varied financing options, modernizing distribution networks and accelerating digitalization, introducing market mechanisms to increase system flexibility, ensuring a socially just energy transition, and supporting energy-vulnerable customers.
Prepared by experts from academia and industry, with support from international professionals experienced in energy systems, the study draws on lessons from Germany, Poland, Croatia, and Montenegro—countries at different stages of prosumer development—to identify best practices adaptable to Serbia.
Jelena Stojković Terzić, lead author of the study, stated: “This research is the result of dedicated expert work aimed at initiating dialogue and encouraging concrete actions. It clearly shows that Serbia has both the potential and the urgent need to accelerate its energy transition. By implementing these recommendations, we can create a more favorable environment for consumers, contributing to a more stable, greener, and cost-effective energy system for all citizens.”
