Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic said that an increase in energy efficiency is a national goal for Serbia and that it was one of the key elements in realizing the vision of a green Serbia.
Minister Mihajlovic stressed that Serbia consumes 40 % more energy than what is average in EU member states. Therefore, an increase in energy efficiency must become a national project and in the upcoming years Serbia will invest between 200 and 250 million euros in this field, with the aim of reducing the consumption of energy in a few years.
If the state manages to help at least 80 % of households to replace the carpentry and the insulation, to potentially install solar panels on their roofs, Serbia will reduce the amount of energy it consumes, and the estimates are that it annually wastes the amount that is equivalent to the production of one thermal power plant.
The state will subsidize citizens in the amount of 50 % of the overall costs of the replacement of the carpentry and the insulation and the installing of solar panels, so it needs at least four years to increase the energy efficiency and to get to the EU average. This year, due to very high interest, the stated failed to secure budget subsidies for all citizens who submitted the applications, but, for next year, 240 million euros is already set aside for this purpose.
