Between 22-25 June, SEEPEX AD actively participated in the regional conference Energy 2021 (ENERGETIKA 2021) in Zlatibor (Serbia). The topic of the conference was “Towards a green recovery”.
SEEPEX AD, in cooperation with partners: the Transmission System Operator of Serbia, the Electricity Coordination Center, the Institute Mihajlo Pupin and the Security Coordination Center SCC Ltd. Belgrade, presented TRINITY project and had an exhibition stand.
Over 80 papers were presented at the conference, and more than 200 energy experts from the country and abroad participated in it. Energy transition in Serbia and the region was the topic of two PANELS.
The concept of energy in Serbia today is still mostly based on the economic paradigm from the 1970s, which is characterised by energy-intensive and inefficient use of energy in heating, transport, and end-use energy. When it comes to the production of electric power, Serbia primarily relies on lignite thermal power plants with low efficiency. That is why the energy sector is the main polluter of air, water, and soil on the local and regional level, and endangers the environment and human health. Also, the energy sector in Serbia has a dominant impact on GHG emissions, with over 70% share in total emissions. Today’s energy infrastructure, both in Serbia and the region, definitely cannot meet the requirements of sustainable development in the 21st century.
The energy decarbonisation process, which is to be completed in Europe by 2050, needs to be urgently planned and its implementation systematically commenced in the next few years, both in Serbia and the region. The basic question that remains is whether Serbia will choose the European decarbonisation agenda, or if it will find its own path. If it is the former, then all the external factors need to be respected (green deal, CO2 prices…), and if we choose to carve our own path, then the risks of us becoming isolated and marginalised are very high.
The slogan of this Conference “Moving towards Green Recovery” served as a basis for the analysis of the assumptions that we will finally start on the green path. The huge role of education and staffing in all segments, especially in the economy, was emphasized.
It was pointed out that the energy transition process must be fair from the aspect of all participants. This could be achieved in part by decentralizing and democratizing the sector, which means involving customers and their cooperatives as active participants in energy markets, both as producers and consumers, which is expected after the implementation of the new legislation.
The main conclusion of the conference was the need of emphasizing and encouraging the concept of sustainable energy development, which can significantly affect the development of the Serbian economy and economies in the region. The energy sector is one of the few that still has the strength to initiate an intensive economic recovery, because it is very powerful, and at the same time it is connected with the accompanying industries. The energy sector includes the latest technological advances, which strengthens the motivation of all participants in the sector.