PET Experts at the RERI’s round table event
At the roundtable event titled "The Importance and Role of Prosumerism in the Energy Transition – Where is Serbia?", experts in energy, law, and environmental protection, along with representatives from institutions, academia, civil society, and energy cooperatives, gathered to discuss the integration of "prosumers"—citizens and organizations that both consume and produce electricity—into Serbia's energy transition. The Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and Environment (RERI) organized this event to highlight Serbia's opportunities and challenges in expanding citizen participation in sustainable energy production.
Bojan Gajić, Program Director of the Platform for Energy Transition (PET), participated in the event and emphasized the urgent need to improve existing procedures to encourage broader citizen involvement in the energy transition. He explained that while current legislation does recognize renewable energy communities, which are associations of prosumers utilizing renewable sources, it still requires further development to effectively support participatory distribution system planning. Gajić noted, "Citizen energy communities have the same rights as active customers, a framework introduced by the proposed amendments to the Energy Law, which grants them the right to participate in the electricity market as end users." These legislative adjustments, he explained, are essential for enhancing the role of prosumers in Serbia’s transition to renewable energy sources.
Both Gajić and Tanja Popovicki represented PET at the event, underscoring PET's commitment to advocating for regulatory reforms that support citizens' active role in sustainable energy.
Jovan Rajić, founder and Chairman of RERI’s Board of Directors, opened the roundtable by addressing the current legal framework for prosumers in Serbia and summarizing findings from RERI’s recent analyses in Serbia and Montenegro. He noted that while the regulatory framework formally acknowledges prosumers, they are not yet recognized as a strategic asset, despite their essential role in decarbonization and renewable energy production. Rajić emphasized that Serbia’s prosumer sector holds significant untapped potential for growth.
According to current data, there are nearly 3,800 registered prosumers in Serbia, with over two-thirds represented by households, around 1,000 by small and medium-sized enterprises, and only three by residential communities. These numbers reflect both the progress and the challenges ahead in integrating prosumers effectively into Serbia’s energy market.
Aleksandar Macura of the RES Foundation echoed the importance of collaboration across multiple sectors—including citizens, experts, and institutions—to optimize the position of prosumers in Serbia’s energy landscape. He emphasized that prosumers are motivated not only by financial benefits but also by social and environmental factors, such as resource efficiency and regulatory backing. Macura also underscored the importance of aligning Serbia’s policies with evolving EU energy regulations to maximize the potential of prosumers and reduce information gaps that may hinder their participation in the energy transition.
Representatives from Elektrodistribucija Srbije also presented data showing a substantial increase in prosumer participation, with new applications for grid connection rising sevenfold from the previous year. This surge signifies public interest in renewable energy and positions prosumers as a critical element in Serbia's decarbonization and decentralization efforts.
The event concluded with a call for enhanced collaboration between institutions, academia, and civil society, supported by a strong regulatory framework to maximize the potential of prosumers. This roundtable, part of RERI's project "Citizen Energy – Enhancing the Legal Framework" with support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation, highlighted a shared commitment to advancing Serbia’s renewable energy future.