5 questions for… Prof. Dejan Ivezić PhD

We have discussed with Professor Dejan Ivezić, a leading expert in Serbia's energy transition, the challenges and opportunities facing the country's energy sector as it moves toward sustainability. From defining energy transition in the Serbian context to exploring the social and environmental benefits of renewable energy, prof. Ivezić highlights the urgent need for modernization and local engagement. He shares his work on pivotal projects like the Energy Development Strategy and the FF GreEN project, which aim to foster a cleaner, more equitable energy future.

1.     What does the term "energy transition" mean to you, and how would you define it in the context of Serbia's energy sector?

Energy Transition is a symbol of something progressive. It is an important shift toward the trajectory of sustainable development. The energy transition is the hope that the issues of energy development can be solved in the long term in a way where everyone benefits – a cleaner and healthier environment, a more advanced local economy, and a more just society.

The Serbian energy sector is struggling to break free from frameworks defined in the second half of the 20th century. Coal for electricity generation and firewood for household heating are still the basic energy sources. There is some progress, but there is no broad consensus in society that changes are both necessary and desirable.

2.     Why is it important to work on the development and utilization of renewable energy sources?

Any combustion, especially of coal and oil derivatives, leads to significant local pollution with negative health consequences for people. Therefore, using energy from the sun, wind, water, or geothermal sources avoids this local impact on our health while also reducing our contribution to climate change.

Additionally, there is a positive economic effect on the local community. There is no import of oil and gas, and local people work in the sale, installation, and maintenance of renewable energy systems.

The use of biomass may be even more favorable from an economic standpoint, but strict attention must be paid to the sustainability of its use.

3.     Can you describe a project in the field of energy transition that you consider the most significant in your resume?

I led the team that drafted the new Energy Development Strategy. Together with the already adopted INECP, it formally represents the key political document on Serbia's path to energy transition.

The ongoing project I lead is  “Forward-Looking Framework for Accelerating Households’ Green Energy Transition – FF GreEN,” funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. The project aims to formulate and suggest a novel framework for guiding and directing the transition of households by integrating a forward-looking engineering approach in utilizing RES, the participatory approach supported by all actors involved in the energy transition process, and the agent-based modeling.

4.     How can the transition to renewable energy sources improve society as a whole?

Essentially, this is about a decentralized production. Local resources are used, which are almost universally available. Unlike traditional energy systems, which are owned by the state or large capital, where decision-making always flows from the top down to consumers, RES provides individuals with the opportunity to increase their degree of independence or even become fully energy independent. In this way, part of the responsibility for developments in the energy sector should be borne by those who, until now, essentially had no "vote." The democratization and decentralization of the energy sector should support similar tendencies within society.

5.     What are the lesser-known aspects of using renewable energy sources that you think more people should know about?

 - The energy transition and wider RES utilization must not be seen as an external demand (e.g. from the EU) but must be recognized as an urgent need for our energy sector and our society.

- Dominant use of outdated stoves and furnaces does not represent a desirable model for RES use.

- The energy produced from RES is not free. However, the good news is that RESs are inexhaustible, their usage horizon is infinite, and the technological development of systems for their use is incredibly fast. As a result, the financial aspect of using renewable energy becomes more acceptable and favorable every day.

Prof. Dejan Ivezić PhD