Context
Serbia wishes to increase the share of renewables in its energy consumption from the current 21 per cent to 27 per cent by 2020. In both the public and private sectors, interest in using bioenergy for heating and electricity generation is very high. Residual materials from forestry and agriculture are suitable sources for producing energy from biomass. However, the current legal framework is not conducive to the development of a sustainable bioenergy market.
Objective
The general conditions, expertise and resources required to ensure sustainable use of bioenergy have improved; this contributes to rural development and to avoiding the production of greenhouse gases.
Approach
The programme staff advise ministries and government authorities on policy drafting and conformity with EU legislation on biomass usage. Demonstration projects are set up to present cost-efficient business models. Training courses and networking events help improve the skills and the knowledge of the individuals responsible in government and the private sector.
In close cooperation with KfW Development Bank, the programme supports the provision of biomass for a sustainable bioenergy market in selected regions. By replacing fossil fuels with residual matter from forestry and agriculture, greenhouse gases are reduced and energy security increased. The programme has provided advice to enterprises along the biomass supply chain. It is currently assisting in the development of this chain for a district-heating company.
With funding from the EU programme Horizon 2020, the programme formed an international consortium to establish regional biomass yards in five countries in South-East Europe. The programme is providing advice and training for forestry companies, local energy agencies, municipalities and financial institutions on building up a sustainable regional supply chain for wood biomass.
Selected industrial, tourist and agricultural enterprises are receiving advice on how they can make bioenergy usable on a long-term basis. This serves to demonstrate the economic and technical feasibility of biomass as an energy carrier in Serbia and to encourage its increased use. Partnerships between German and Serbian companies are fostering technology transfer and are helping to break down investment barriers.
A technology partnership for bioenergy was established in September 2014 between Serbia and the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It focuses on three areas: political dialogue between the Serbian and German ministries concerned, cooperation between companies in implementing investment projects and joint scientific research.
To encourage more efficient use of fuelwood in private households, the programme is disseminating recommendations in two pilot regions on cost-efficient fuelwood usage and energy-saving stoves for households.
Results
Beginning with five district heating power stations, cooperation agreements have been concluded for developing sustainable biomass supply chains. The planned biomass consumption of these power stations is equivalent to a heating value of around 345,000 megawatt hours per year. This can result in CO2 reductions of approximately 134,000 tons annually.
Around 1,500 households were reached within the first four months of an awareness-raising campaign on cost-efficient fuelwood use and energy-saving stoves for private households. The recommendations disseminated can help reduce air pollution in living quarters and conserve forestry resources.
So far a total of 12 proposals for bioenergy demonstration projects have been prepared with decision-makers from industrial, tourist and agricultural enterprises and presented to potential investors. These proposals enable them to make investment decisions.
The technology partnership for bioenergy between Serbia and Baden Württemberg uses political dialogue to try and align the general conditions for the bioenergy market of the entire Danube Region with EU standards.