With amendments to the Energy Law at the end of 2024, the Republic of Serbia formally introduced the possibility of establishing citizen energy communities, building on the prosumer (consumer-producer) model introduced in 2021. This further expanded the framework for collective, decentralized energy generation, including citizens who do not have their own rooftops for solar power plants.
Although key secondary legislation is still pending, the Environment Improvement Center (Centar za unapređenje životne sredine) has launched the portal energetske-zajednice.rs with the aim of consolidating available information on the legal and practical functioning of energy communities in Serbia.
“Energy communities represent a new institutional framework in Serbia that enables collective participation by citizens in energy production and sharing, as well as in other energy-related activities such as energy efficiency, energy storage, e-mobility services, and even selling energy on the market.
Since there had previously been no central place for information, we launched the portal with the intention of clearly explaining the concept of citizen-led energy communities. Our goal is to provide up-to-date information on the legislative framework, its implementation and further development, and to inspire and empower citizens through examples showing that it is possible to produce and share energy in a way that is solidarity-based, local and responsible. Energy communities are a natural continuation of the process of democratizing the energy system, and we believe the energy transition can only be successful if citizens are involved as active participants, not merely consumers,” said Ivana Jovčić, Director of the Environment Improvement Center.
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The portal energetske-zajednice.rs offers key information on energy communities in Serbia—from explanations of terms and types of communities, conditions for establishment, membership and activities, to an overview of applicable legislation and energy-sharing models. The portal also provides a practical guide, explanations of procedures, and examples from European countries, giving citizens a clear picture of how energy communities function and how they can be established in practice.
“We have long been taught that energy is too complex, that it is the domain of large systems, large investors, and big decisions made behind closed doors. The energy communities portal is a place where knowledge and information are accessible to everyone, and also a place where, through examples, we dismantle the myth that energy is reserved only for large energy companies.
Energy communities are not a technical detail in the law—they are a political idea. The idea that local communities have the right to decide. The idea that profit does not have to flow far from where energy is produced. The idea that energy communities can become a tool for reducing energy poverty. In that sense, energy communities are first and foremost social projects, and only then energy projects,” added Vladan Šćekić, Program Director of the Environment Improvement Center.
Source: Environment Improvement Center
