The latest data from Eurostat reveals that Serbia’s renewable energy share in gross final energy consumption has reached 25.8% for the year 2024, reflecting a marginal increase of 0.4% compared to the previous year. This figure places Serbia slightly above the European Union average of 25.2% recorded in 2023, indicating a gradual shift towards more sustainable energy practices.
Sectoral Breakdown of Renewable Consumption
An analysis of Serbia’s energy mix highlights that heating and cooling sectors lead in renewable usage, with green sources accounting for an impressive 37.2%. Electricity generation follows closely behind at a renewable share of 32%. However, the transport sector continues to lag significantly with renewables comprising only 0.6%, marking four consecutive years without progress in this area.
Comparative Performance within the Region
When comparing regional performance, Serbia appears to be trailing its neighbors; Albania and Montenegro have both surpassed a notable threshold of over 40% renewable shares within their respective energy mixes. This disparity underscores the varying pace of transition among Western Balkan countries toward greener energy solutions.
Long-Term Trends and EU Targets
Over two decades, while the EU has nearly tripled its reliance on renewables, Serbia’s growth rate remains modest as it has doubled its share during this same period—highlighting challenges faced by Serbian policymakers in accelerating this transformation trajectory effectively.
Future Goals Under National Plans
The revised ambitions set forth by Europe through the updated Renewable Energy Directive aim for an EU-wide target increase from 32% to an ambitious goal of up to 45%. In contrast, Serbia’s National Energy and Climate Plan outlines more conservative targets: aiming for renewables to comprise approximately 33.6% of total consumption by 2030 along with specific goals such as achieving a renewable contribution of around 45% in electricity generation and increasing transport use to just over three percent.
