Will Serbia be able to build nuclear energy plants?

The lifting of the ban on nuclear energy in Serbia does not necessarily mean the country will take a decision to build nuclear energy plants, but the vote to lift the ban means that the feasibility studies currently being carried out will help inform a possible decision to do so.

How much power does Serbia have?

It currently has a total capacity of approximately 3490 megawatts (MW) of renewables, with 2342 MW in hydropower in 2019 according to the European Energy Community. Serbia announced plans to install new hydropower plants and two existing dams, and to rehabilitate a further 15 existing power plants totaling around 30 MW with EBRD financing.

Is a future nuclear energy programme possible in Serbia?

Serbia's National Assembly has voted through amendments to the energy law which has ended the 35-year prohibition on the construction of nuclear power plants. A group of ministers, academics and other experts was formed earlier this year to examine a possible future nuclear energy programme (Image: Emilija Jovanovic/Serbia's Ministry of Energy)

Does Serbia have a coal-fired power plant?

It has come at a cost. Nearly 70 percent of Serbia's electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, which caused an estimated 15,000 deaths in 2021 alone linked to pollution, according to a report by the European Environment Agency.

What percentage of Serbia's electricity comes from coal?

Serbia’s national power utility Electric Power of Serbia (EPS) produces nearly 70 percent of the country’s electricity from coal and nearly 27% percent from hydropower, with approximately 4% coming from private developers in wind and solar energy. Serbia heavily subsidizes coal and electricity prices, inhibiting competition.

Will Serbia develop a 1 GW solar power plant?

As a first step, in August 2023, the Serbian Government published a public call for a strategic partner to develop a 1 gigawatt (GW) solar PV power plant, together with a minimum of 200 MW of storage. The government also announced that it will publish a similar call for the development of a 1 GW wind power plant by the end of this year.