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Four Solar Power Plants in Prnjavor For New Green Kilowatts

Photo: MT-KOMEX BH

Soon, new kilowatts of green energy will begin to be produced in the town of Prnjavor, where preparatory works are underway for the construction of four solar power plants on the ground. The winter months were used to carry out earthworks – marking the terrain, digging and laying cables, and the progress of the works is going according to plan.

Photo: MT-KOMEX BH

Power plants Prosjek 1, Prosjek 2, Prosjek 3, and Prosjek 4 each have a capacity of 149.26 kWp and will occupy a total area of around 13,500 square meters. They are being constructed in the town of Prnjavor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the investor is Solo Verde. z

The locations of the power plants are easily accessible via the local access road, and the well-developed power infrastructure in this area enables efficient connection to the grid. The new plants are planned to be connected to the medium-voltage grid via a dedicated transformer station, ensuring a stable supply and maximum utilization of solar energy.

Solar panels from AIKO Solar and inverter systems from Huawei will be used for the construction of solar power plants, and other equipment will come from world-famous brands that guarantee long-term use and stable electricity production. The panels will be placed on an aluminum and steel structure oriented towards the south at a tilt angle of 28 degrees. The project envisages a basic primary steel structure driven into the ground.

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Each of the power plants consists of 234 panels with a power of 640 Wp and three inverters with a power of 50 kW. The construction of Prosjek 1, Prosjek 2, Prosjek 3, and Prosjek 4 solar power plants was entrusted to the company MT-KOMEX BH, a renowned leader in renewable energy sources. With years of experience, the company’s team of skilled engineers and installers applies state-ofthe-art technical solutions to ensure maximum efficiency and long-term reliability of the system.

– The terrain where the solar power plants are being built is challenging as it is inclined towards the north, which is not ideal for the installation of solar panels. However, after a detailed analysis, the optimal panel tilt angle and the distance between the rows were determined so that they would not be shaded, which can cause reduced production. Based on the above, the layout of the solar power plants was designed to ensure the best utilization of the plot – said Bojan Lazić, the project engineer.

Photo: MT-KOMEX BH

Thanks to the expertise and dedication of MT-KOMEX BH, the investor has been able to optimally use the potential of this location with top-notch implementation of all project segments – from design and preparatory works to final installation and grid connection.

According to the data, the average annual electricity production per solar power plant, accounting for losses, is 211,897 kWh. The estimated annual production of solar power plants was obtained using software packages.

With the completion of these projects, Bosnia and Herzegovina will receive new kilowatts of green energy. Energy from renewable sources enables economic growth, improves the quality of life, and contributes to the fight against climate change. One of the main advantages of solar power plants is their ability to reduce the emission of harmful gases because they do not use fossil fuels to operate. The installation of solar panels is becoming increasingly affordable, and their performance continues to improve, contributing to global efforts to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.

Prepared by Jasna Dragojević

The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Serbia Introduces European Standards for the Quality of Pellets and Briquettes

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (moses)

For the first time, Serbia has adopted a Rulebook on Solid Fuels from Wood Biomass, establishing systematic regulations for the quality of pellets and briquettes on the domestic market. With this regulation, Serbia aligns with European Union standards and significantly enhances the protection of public health and the environment, according to a statement from the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

The Rulebook clearly defines technical standards, mandatory laboratory analyses, rules for conformity assessment and product labeling, as well as parameters that directly affect human health and air quality.

From now on, only high-quality pellets and briquettes that meet strict requirements regarding physical and chemical properties—such as size, shape, durability, calorific value, moisture content, and ash content—will be allowed on the market.

Particular attention has been given to the control of harmful and toxic elements, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc, sulfur, and nitrogen, marking an important step toward safer use of wood biomass as an energy source.

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Producers and importers of wood fuels are required to conduct quality control and obtain a Declaration of Conformity from an authorized body before placing products on the market.

The adoption of this Rulebook is the result of the engagement of the Group for Renewable Energy Sources and Primary Wood Processing, as well as the effective initiative of the Center for Economic Initiatives and Quick Solutions of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC).

“By adopting the Rulebook, conditions are created for healthy and fair market competition, stronger consumer protection, promotion of sustainable development of the biomass sector—the largest renewable energy resource in Serbia—as well as improvement of quality control of energy materials from domestic sources,” stated the SCC.

Based on the initiative of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Mining and Energy formed a working group in June 2024 to draft the Rulebook. The process involved representatives of competent institutions, experts, and the private sector, and through a broad consultative process, the final text was adopted and officially published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 31/2025, on April 11, 2025.

Energy portal

Installation of All Wind Turbines Completed in Kostolac

Photo: EPS

Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) has completed the installation of all 20 wind turbines within its first wind farm in Kostolac, marking the entry of this significant project into its final phase. The wind turbines, standing 179 meters tall, are distributed across former open-pit mines and disposal sites, making this project a prime example of repurposing exploited mining areas into renewable energy facilities.

The total capacity of the wind farm is 66 MW, with an expected annual production of approximately 187 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. This is enough to supply around 30,000 households in Serbia. Each wind turbine has a capacity of 3.3 MW. In addition to their installation, construction of a substation, switchgear, and internal cable network within the wind farm is still pending, according to a statement from EPS.

The project is financed through a €110 million loan from the German Development Bank KfW, with an additional €30 million provided via the WBIF fund. The wind farm is expected to be connected to the power grid by the end of this year.

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In parallel with the completion of the wind farm, all solar panels have been installed at the “Petka” solar power plant, also located in Kostolac. This facility is expected to be connected to the grid by the end of May, as explained by EPS General Director Dušan Živković in an interview for RTS.

Alongside these projects, preparations are underway for another strategic endeavor—the construction of the reversible hydroelectric power plant “Bistrica.”

With a coal stockpile of 1.7 million tons at thermal power plant depots and reservoir capacities of 400 GWh, EPS also plans to increase reserves over the next month—by 10 percent in coal depots and by 20 percent in reservoirs—to further enhance energy security, Živković added.

Energy portal

Learning Under the Canopy: Belgraders Attend Tree Workshop by the Danube

Photo: EP

A Sunday afternoon on the Zemun Quay was marked by nature, learning, and community spirit. Citizens had the opportunity to spend the day outdoors, learning about the trees that inhabit this riverside area.

Photo: EP

The first workshop was organized by the Community for Nature’s Rights Belgrade, aiming to teach Belgraders how to recognize and map trees in their surroundings. The idea is to gradually build collective awareness of the importance of preserving urban nature, while also fostering individual responsibility.

“To protect nature, we must first understand it,” was the key message echoed throughout the workshop. Helping participants in this process was forestry expert Stefan Vukić from the Braničevo Initiative, who introduced them to the most important tree species growing along the Zemun Quay.

Recognizing tree species is not only important for knowledge but also serves as the first step toward their protection. As emphasized during the workshop, some trees are especially valuable and at the same time endangered—whether due to urban development, poor maintenance, or the replacement of native species with more economical hybrids.

According to Serbia’s National Forest Inventory (2008), about 30 percent of the country is forested. The most widespread native species is the beech (40 percent ), followed by oak (25 percent ), which is often found in riverbank areas. However, forests in these zones only cover 22,400 hectares – just 0.001 percent of Serbia’s territory – making them extremely rare and vulnerable. A similar situation exists with poplars, which cover about 48,000 hectares (0.2 percent).

Globally, as much as 90 percent of native forests are under some degree of threat.

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During a walk and hands-on demonstration, participants learned how tree species naturally arrange themselves from the riverbank inland: white willows dominate closest to the water, followed by poplars, then oaks. Among the highlighted species was the native black poplar, recognizable by its prominent knots.

Photo: EP

“It’s also called janj topola or mazer. When you see those irregularly shaped, patterned wooden tables at fairs – that’s black poplar. That’s why it’s become very endangered, and it’s difficult to regenerate naturally,” explained Stefan.

In contrast, there is the Canadian poplar, a hybrid of the American and native black poplar. While it grows quickly and is used in industry for making crates and pallets, it holds little ecological value and often threatens the survival of native species.

As for willows on Great War Island, the dominant species in this area is the white willow, followed by the brittle willow, and many shrubby forms are also present – including crack willow, almond willow, goat willow, marsh willow, and others. It is especially important to note that both willows and poplars have phytoremediation properties – the ability to purify soil and improve environmental quality.

Participants also had the chance to observe poor urban greenery management practices – particularly the “topping” method of pruning. This outdated practice, largely abandoned worldwide, shortens trees’ lifespans and exposes them to additional stress.

The Siberian elm was also spotted on the quay – a fast-growing tree that provides good shade and is used as a windbreak due to its ability to be planted densely.

The workshop demonstrated how crucial it is for the city to reconnect with its own nature – to encourage citizens to observe, recognize, and understand what grows around them.

Katarina Vuinac

Turkey’s Solar and Wind Potential on the Rise

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

The combined share of wind and solar energy in Turkey’s electricity generation reached 18 percent last year, according to Ember’s Turkey Electricity Review 2025, published for the fourth consecutive year, which analyzes electricity generation and consumption data.

The increase in installed solar energy capacity in Turkey has started to reflect in the overall share of solar power in electricity production. Wind energy remained stable, while hydropower generation continued to fluctuate due to periods of drought.

In 2024, solar electricity generation in Turkey increased by 7.3 TWh, representing a 39 percent jump compared to the previous year. This one-year growth nearly reached the entire solar production level of 2018 (7.8 TWh).

The report reveals that the key factor enabling this leap was the opening of pathways for the construction of self-consumption solar power plants. The 7.3 TWh increase in solar production accounted for 32 percent of the total increase in electricity generation.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (arteum-ro)

The highest output was recorded in June, when 3.2 TWh was produced. The share of solar energy in Turkey’s electricity generation reached 7.5 percent in 2024, compared to 5.7 percent in 2023.

„Compared to the 20 European countries with the highest electricity consumption, Turkey in 2024 surpassed Switzerland in terms of solar energy share but remained behind Romania. Romania doubled its solar share from 3.9 percent in 2023 to 7.8 percent in 2024”, the report states.

In comparison to countries with similar solar potential such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece – where solar energy accounts for 14 to 22 percent of electricity generation – Turkey still lags behind. Poland overtook Turkey in this metric last year, reaching a 9 percent share in 2024.

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Slowed Growth in Wind Energy

Electricity generation from wind grew by only 5 percent between 2022 and 2024, while capacity increased by 13 percent. Due to the slow construction of new wind farms and growing electricity demand, the share of wind power in total production showed only marginal growth – reaching 10.7 percent in 2024, up from 10.6 percent in 2023.

Nevertheless, Turkey still outperforms Norway, Italy, and France in terms of the share of wind energy in electricity generation in 2024.

Across Europe, a decline in new wind installations is observed, mainly due to rising turbine installation costs.

Turkey’s targets for 2035, presented during COP29, envision a fourfold increase in current wind and solar power capacity. If achieved, the share of fossil fuels in electricity generation could fall below 20 percent, while wind and solar power could jointly reach 49 percent.

Jasna Dragojević

Challenges and Opportunities for Montenegro on the Path to a Circular Economy

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (pixelRaw)

Countries in the region are making significant strides in implementing a circular economy (CE), which is vital for reducing dependence on primary resources, boosting competitiveness, and protecting the environment. We spoke with Milena Rmuš, Secretary of the Coordinating Committee for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection at the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, about how the country gradually embraces circular principles, tackles specific challenges, and develops key strategies and initiatives to achieve sustainable development.

Q: How would you describe Montenegro’s progress in transitioning to a circular economy? What are the key challenges, and what has been the most significant achievement so far? What are the focus areas?

A: Montenegro has made some progress in transitioning to a circular economy, but it still faces a series of structural challenges that slow down its implementation. Aligning with European regulations provides a framework for further reforms, but the fundamental transformation of the economic system and business models is happening gradually.

Photo: courtesy of Milena Rmuš

The main obstacles include underdeveloped waste management and recycling infrastructure, while the capacity for processing secondary raw materials is limited. This makes closing material loops difficult and increases dependence on imported primary resources. Additionally, Montenegro generates a significant amount of municipal waste, most of which ends up in landfills, with recycling rates remaining below the European average.

Financial constraints, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, hinder the adoption of circular business models. Incentive mechanisms and access to green financing are at a very low level. Furthermore, awareness among businesses and citizens about the benefits of circular transition is still unsatisfactory. A lack of education, limited access to information, and weak promotion of CE contribute to this issue. Targeting campaigns and integrating CE principles into educational programmes are essential to overcome this challenge.

Despite these challenges, Montenegro has made progress by improving the legislative framework in waste management, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction, laying the foundation for further CE development. Additionally, active regional cooperation within the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans has enabled knowledge and experience exchange.

The key focus areas for CE in Montenegro include sectors with high potential for circular practices, as well as horizontal policies that support the efficient integration of circular principles into economic flows. Given the specific characteristics of the national economy, particular attention and action are required in the agriculture, tourism, and construction sectors.

Tourism contributes significantly to GDP but generates large amounts of waste, resource consumption, and CO2 emissions. In recent years, sustainability initiatives have improved the reputation of tourist destinations and attracted more visitors, while hotels have obtained prestigious Green Key certifications. The tourism sector has become an essential driver of the circular economy by introducing innovative technologies for resource monitoring and optimization and using renewable energy sources.

Furthermore, the agri-food sector holds excellent potential for circular solutions, especially given Montenegro’s high dependence on imported food products and raw materials. The focus is on producing organic, local, and healthy food using environmentally friendly practices and valorising bio-waste.

The construction sector in Montenegro faces challenges related to high CO2 emissions, low energy efficiency of buildings, and unstructured management of construction waste. This makes further efforts necessary for the implementation of sustainable construction practices.

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Q: How would you assess the importance of Montenegro’s 2022 Circular Economy Roadmap and the National Circular Economy Strategy until 2030?

A: Montenegro’s Circular Economy Roadmap from 2022 is the first document to create a framework for integrating circular principles into economic, regulatory, and institutional processes and aligning them with EU policies. Its implementation helps reduce reliance on imported raw materials, develop the secondary raw materials market, create an enabling regulatory environment, and strengthen economic competitiveness.

The document provides guidelines for priority sectors and outlines further steps, emphasizing public policies and business models. Sector-specific and local roadmaps that precisely identify challenges and opportunities within specific industries and regions are essential to enhancing CE implementation.

Based on the recommendations from the Roadmap, the Government of Montenegro in 2022 adopted the National Circular Economy Strategy until 2030, together with the Action Plan for 2023-2024. This comprehensive framework integrates CE into national development policies, redefines resource policy, industrial production, and waste management, and aims to create a resilient, competitive, and economically sustainable system. The action plans define concrete measures and resource allocation to ensure the transition is measurable, adaptable, and aligned with market and regulatory changes. The strategy identifies key sectors for the application of circular principles, including the agri-food, forestry, construction, and tourism sectors, while strengthening horizontal policies in the areas of education, innovation, and energy efficiency.

Interview by Katarina Vuinac

The inteview was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Drop in Rare Earth Imports to the EU – A Shift in Supply Strategy?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (matthew-de-livera)

In 2024, the European Union imported 12,900 tonnes of rare earth elements, marking a 29.3 percent decrease compared to the previous year. At the same time, exports remained relatively stable at 5,500 tonnes, down just 0.8 percent. These figures from Eurostat suggest a gradual restructuring of a market known for its high supply risk.

Despite their name, rare earth elements—named after their oxides—are not truly rare in the Earth’s crust. However, economically viable concentrations occur in only a few regions. Through the new Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU aims to diversify imports, boost domestic processing and recycling, and secure a stable supply chain to support the green and digital transition.

Rare earth elements are essential to modern technologies. They are used in green energy, particularly in wind turbines, batteries, and magnets for electric vehicles; in smart devices such as screens, speakers, and vibration motors in phones and laptops; in medicine for MRI contrast agents, laser scalpels, and certain cancer treatments; and in aerospace and defense technologies.

However, securing a supply of these metals poses significant challenges. More than 60 percent of global mining and over 80 percent of processing takes place in China, creating a high geopolitical risk.

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According to Eurostat data, China remained the EU’s largest supplier in 2024, delivering 6,000 tonnes or 46.3 percent of total imports. Still, its market share is gradually declining as the EU ramps up diversification efforts. Russia ranked second with 3,700 tonnes (28.4 percent), followed by Malaysia with 2,600 tonnes (19.9 percent). The drop in China’s share aligns with the goals of the Critical Raw Materials Act, which came into force on May 23, 2024. The Act sets targets for 2030: at least 10 percent of demand to be met by domestic extraction, 40 percent by EU-based processing, and 25 percent through recycling.

This group includes 17 metals crucial to high-tech applications—from magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines to laser scalpels and satellite navigation systems.

Exports Remain Stable

The minimal drop in exports (‑0.8 percent) indicates that Europe’s processing capacities still find buyers on the global market. However, a large share of exports consists of semi-processed or lower-purity forms of the metals, underscoring the need to develop advanced separation and refining facilities within the EU.

One of the solutions the EU is pursuing involves memorandums of understanding with Canada, Australia, and Western Balkan countries to secure stable raw material supply chains.

Energy portal

Coal Use at Its Lowest in the Past 20 Years

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Dominik Vanyi)

Electricity production from coal reached its lowest level in the past two decades last year, totaling 44 gigawatts (GW), marking a strong signal for the continued decline in the use of the most harmful fossil fuel, according to the annual report by Global Energy Monitor.

The report, titled “Boom and Bust Coal”, tracks nearly every coal-fired power plant and the plans for their construction across the globe.

Data shows that the number of coal plants worldwide increased by less than one percent in 2024, with a net growth of 18.8 GW, as 25.2 GW of capacity was retired.

Only eight countries proposed new coal power plants in 2024, compared to twelve in 2023. Among the 38 developed member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the number of proposals for new coal plants dropped from 142 in 2015 to just five today.

New coal plant proposals have declined significantly in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia being the only country in the region to propose new ones.

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Latin America is nearing a complete halt in proposing new coal-fired power plants – only Brazil and Honduras put forward projects that have remained stagnant for years. Panama pledged in 2024 to completely eliminate coal from its energy mix by 2026.

On the other hand, China recorded a record number of coal plant construction starts, continuing the wave of permit issuances from the 2022–2023 period.

India set a record for the number of new coal plant proposals in 2024, following renewed government support for coal despite years of slowdown.

In EU countries, the amount of retired coal capacity quadrupled compared to 2023 – from 2.7 GW to 11 GW – with Germany leading the way by shutting down 6.7 GW.

Elsewhere in Europe, the United Kingdom closed its last coal-fired power plant, becoming the sixth country to completely phase out coal from electricity production since the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.

Jasna Dragojević

In the Rock, Odor-Free and with Style – The Story of Henriksdal

Foto: OpenAI

If you thought Stockholm’s most exciting attractions were the old town, museums, and IKEA, I hate to disappoint (or maybe delight) you – the real marvel lies underground, in the form of one of the world’s most spectacular wastewater treatment facilities.

When the city began expanding rapidly in the second half of the 19th century, the quality of Lake Mälaren – Stockholm’s main water source – was seriously compromised. It didn’t take long for the residents to realize they needed a serious wastewater solution to protect public health, and that’s when Henriksdal stepped onto the scene.

This engineering masterpiece was built back in the 1930s, carved directly into solid rock. But Henriksdal’s true marvel isn’t just that it’s underground – it’s how it was designed. Instead of sprawling across Stockholm’s precious surface area, the clever Swedes thought: “Why don’t we build it vertically… but downward?” And so, the facility was spread over multiple levels inside the rock – like an underground layer cake for treating wastewater.

And you know what else is brilliant? Because the basins were quite literally blasted from the rock (yes, they used explosives), they could make them much deeper than if they had been built above ground. And the best part? Instead of expensive concrete walls – they used the bare rock itself! Nature as a building material. Environmentally friendly and surprisingly cost-effective – it turned out that digging through solid rock was actually cheaper than building on the surface.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Adam Gavlak)

To make it even more interesting – the plant is so discreet that you could literally live above it and have no idea what’s happening beneath your feet. There are no unpleasant smells, everything is enclosed, quiet, and clean. In fact, back in the 1960s, they built the entire Henriksdalsringen residential neighborhood right on top of the facility.

As Stockholm continued to grow, so did Henriksdal. Its capacity doubled, the basins grew deeper, and by the 1990s, they decided to deepen the reservoirs even further – from five to twelve meters.

Today, Henriksdal, together with the neighboring Sickla facility, serves a staggering 800,000 people. And that’s not all – a massive expansion is currently underway under the “Stockholm Future Wastewater Treatment” project (or as I like to call it – Mission: Cleanpossible). The plan is to upgrade everything to serve up to 1.6 million people and to phase out older facilities, like the one in Bromma.

To make this happen, new underground tunnels are being built – real sewer highways. The most impressive is the Bromma tunnel – a 14-kilometer-long marvel, blasted beneath the city, under the lake, and through bedrock, all the way to the Sickla facility. What’s especially important is that these tunnels are designed to last at least 100 years.

In the end, I have to admit – this isn’t just an engineering feat. It’s a shining example of human ingenuity that enables the most efficient, quiet, and clean wastewater treatment possible.

So, next time you’re in Stockholm, strolling through the Henriksdalsringen neighborhood, remember – there’s an entire world beneath your feet, working tirelessly, day and night, to make sure everything that goes down the drain is treated in the best possible way.

And that, my friends, is what I call the magic of urban life.

Milena Maglovski

First DC Chargers in Cities Across Serbia

Photo: Charge&GO

Drivers in Serbia often face dilemmas when it comes to choosing electric vehicles. This ambiguity usually stems from the perception that adequate infrastructure is lacking, leading many to conclude that electric cars still pose too much risk despite their considerable benefits. It is also common for electric vehicle users who are in transit or visiting the country for business purposes to doubt the availability and efficiency of the domestic charging network.

The readiness of our charging infrastructure depends on many stakeholders, including companies that provide specific services in developing the charging network. Their initiative and operation can significantly influence perceptions about the risks and practicality of electric vehicles.

One of the key players in the development of infrastructure is the company Charge&GO, which is starting this year with a lot of good news and important plans.

DC Chargers – from Kikinda to Prokuplje

Charge&GO recently launched two new chargers and then announced the installation of DC chargers in several cities across Serbia that previously did not have such equipment.

Talking about two new and active DC chargers, Charge&GO has installed one charger in the northern part of the country and the other in the south. An ultra-fast DC charger with a power of 150 kW with two CCS connectors was installed at the Super Vero parking lot in Novi Sad. The second installed charger, with a power of 60 kW with CCS connectors, is located within the Penta Park in Prokuplje and is the first DC charger in this city.

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Photo: Charge&GO

As for the plans for other cities, the company intends to install one DC charger in the following locations before the summer, i.e., during the first half of the year: Kragujevac, Loznica, Užice, Kraljevo, Jagodina, Kikinda, and Belgrade—on the Zrenjanin-Belgrade road. Up to two DC chargers are planned to be installed in some locations in the coming months, with one of the guaranteed locations being Zrenjanin.

It is very important to highlight that Kikinda, Loznica, Užice, and Jagodina are getting their first DC charger within the network, which will significantly contribute to the further development of infrastructure in the North Banat, Mačva, Zlatibor, and Pomoravlje District. Unlike Belgrade, which already has a solid number of chargers and developed supporting infrastructure, e-mobility has yet to become a part of everyday life in other cities. That is why every location is equally important in connecting all parts of Serbia, ensuring more equal access to modern traffic solutions.

When considering the charging process for electric cars, the key factor for most users is the speed at which the vehicle’s battery can be charged. Much like water through a garden hose requiring higher pressure for faster flow – a higher voltage allows the car to charge faster. Essentially, the efficiency of a charging station depends on its ability to quickly and efficiently transfer electricity to the vehicle’s battery. Therefore, the chargers that Charge&GO will install in the next series will provide users with fast and efficient service in the eight mentioned cities of Serbia, as they are DC chargers. We should not forget the fact that the amount of power the vehicle will draw depends on the battery in the vehicle. That is, the battery has control over the charging process itself.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The United Kingdom Takes a Step Toward Its Energy Future with a £20 Million Investment in Fusion Energy

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (ben-wicks)

The United Kingdom has taken a step toward its energy future by investing £20 million in the development of fusion energy – a technology that promises an almost unlimited source of clean and safe energy. This investment comes through the launch of the Starmaker One fund, the UK’s first private investment fund dedicated to fusion, with one of its key investors being the government itself. On April 3, the government announced this £20 million contribution, effectively opening the door for further investments.

What is fusion, really?

Fusion is the process by which the Sun and stars produce energy – by fusing light atoms (like hydrogen) into heavier ones (like helium), releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. Unlike fission (nuclear) power plants that split atoms, fusion produces no long-lived radioactive waste and carries no risk of catastrophic accidents. Though it has been under research for decades, commercial use of fusion has not yet been achieved – but many believe the world is getting close.

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A Fund That Opens the Door to Private Investment

The Starmaker One fund is structured as a limited partnership and will be managed by an investment arm of the London-based firm East X. The goal is to raise between £100 million and £150 million to invest in fusion-related technologies – including automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, magnets, healthcare, transport, and energy storage.

What makes this fund unique is that it is the first venture capital fund dedicated to fusion outside of the United States, and the first to directly involve a national government as an investor. The initial investment, drawn from the UK’s 2024/2025 research and development budget, is expected to spur additional investment from the private sector, according to the UK government’s website.

The government notes that British fusion companies often face difficulties accessing capital, which hinders their ability to scale and move from research to commercialization. Through this fund, financing will be made available to small companies, training will be offered in physics, engineering, and chemistry, and new technologies with broader applications will be developed.

Energy Portal

Grid Congestion as an Obstacle to the Energy Transition – How to Overcome the Challenges

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)

The growing demand for electricity, electrification, and the accelerated shift to renewable energy sources worldwide require a more flexible system. Power grids play a crucial role in connecting new energy sources and consumers, transmitting electricity, and balancing supply and demand. However, grid congestion significantly slows down the energy transition.

The Netherlands serves as an example of a country where grid congestion has become a major issue. The International Energy Agency (IEA) presented a detailed analysis of the challenges this country is facing in its report, as well as ways in which grid congestion can be addressed globally. Namely, the Netherlands is experiencing serious grid congestion after increasing its solar energy capacity fivefold between 2018 and 2023, while grid expansion failed to keep up with this trend. By early 2025, around 10,000 large users and 7,500 projects were waiting to be connected to the grid. This situation has slowed down important initiatives and increased costs for consumers.

Similar situations have been recorded in other countries, such as Germany, where the costs of managing grid congestion more than tripled between 2020 and 2022.

Addressing grid congestion is a priority for the Dutch government, which introduced a National Action Program in December 2022. The program focuses on faster grid expansion, better use of existing capacity through smart solutions, and increasing transparency.

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How to Solve Grid Congestion

In its report, the IEA emphasizes the importance of a proactive approach to solving grid congestion, highlighting several key strategies to use existing grid capacity more efficiently.

One of the recommendations is to plan grid expansion in advance, which implies investing in infrastructure aligned with energy policies, as well as legal changes that encourage investments in the grid. Another important step is increasing transparency in grid capacity, which helps identify bottlenecks and ensures timely access for new users. This information can also support the placement of infrastructure such as electric vehicle chargers in locations where solar energy is already present, thereby reducing the need for additional electricity transmission.

The report also mentions technologies such as replacing old wires on existing lines, increasing voltage in the network, and monitoring current flow through lines, which enables better electricity transmission without the need to build new lines. Utilizing the flexibility of distributed energy resources—such as solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles—is also essential for reducing the load on the grid.

Legal and regulatory frameworks play a crucial role in this strategy. In the Netherlands, for instance, the regulator ACM encourages the system operator to use the existing grid more efficiently. In other countries, such as Lithuania, hybrid energy facilities have been introduced, combining different renewable energy sources (RES), which enables more effective utilization. For example, when one energy source is not available, another can take over.

The IEA concludes that solving this issue requires a proactive approach that includes technologies, investments, transparency, and innovative regulatory practices to ensure that grids are ready to support the energy transition.

Energy portal

BiH on the Path to a Circular Economy

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Orlando)

By implementing the circular model, society gains numerous benefits, fosters innovation, creates new jobs, and establishes longterm economic stability. Additionally, the circular economy promotes responsible consumption behavior, increasing awareness about preserving natural resources and reducing pollution. Business operations in developed countries have long been aligned with the circular economy principles. We talked with Professor Dušica Pešević, PhD, whose work focuses on environmental protection, and who is the author of the first scientific monograph in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on the topic of circular economy and its significance for environmental protection and where Bosnia and Herzegovina stand on this path.

Q: How much is the circular economy as a topic represented in BiH?

Photo: courtesy of Dušica Pešević

A: The idea of the circular economy is still new and underdeveloped in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In recent years, the circular economy has been increasingly recognized as a concept and practice, but still to a limited extent. The economy in BiH is primarily based on a model of linear, extractive economy, the depletion of natural resources, an additional increase in waste production, and leaving a high carbon footprint in the country, all of which negatively affect the environment and the health of citizens, as well as the community as a whole. By adopting the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in 2020, the countries of the Western Balkans accepted the European Green Deal (or its key elements), where they committed to implementing and respecting measures in five areas, one of which is the circular economy. The first priority of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is “material value preserved as much as possible, and waste generation minimized.”

Q: What is the potential for applying circular economy in BiH?

A: As a resource-intensive economy, BiH has the potential to achieve significant economic benefits by applying the circular economy model. Increasing resource productivity in the economy, with better utilization of raw materials extracted from domestic territory, is one of the conditions for the transition to a circular economy. Resources should be kept in the economy for as long as possible, maximizing their value and minimizing waste. This includes good product design, efficient use of materials and energy, long product life cycle, well-designed circular industrial plants, new business models, and effective recycling to obtain high-quality secondary raw materials when a product finally becomes waste.

IN FOCUS:

Q: How would you assess the representation of the circular economy in BiH now and in the region?

A: BiH has not yet adopted the Roadmap for Circular Economy as a necessary framework for a fast transition to a circular economy, while neighboring countries accepted this document years ago as a guideline for transitioning to the circular economy model, which, alongside profit, focuses on environmental protection and resource conservation. This initial document will start a dialogue between decision-makers, industry representatives, the academic sector, and civil society, with the goal of defining future transitional steps and timelines using digital tools. Only recently has this concept appeared in BiH’s strategies and plans, mainly in the field of environmental protection. In recent years, BiH has reformed its waste management legislation as part of efforts to transpose the European Union’s legal framework. New terms such as product reuse, green islands, extended producer responsibility, recycling yard, and waste management center have been integrated into waste management laws. Specific duties, responsibilities, and obligations regarding industrial product manufacturers and waste carriers have been defined.

Photo: courtesy of Dušica Pešević

Manufacturers of industrial products are required to use technology and develop production to ensure the rational use of natural resources, encourage the reuse and recycling of products, and promote the environmentally sustainable management of natural resources. All these changes are in line with the principles of the circular economy. However, it cannot be claimed that all these legal provisions are consistently implemented in practice. State and entity authorities are required to transpose annexes and new articles of related EU directives into local laws and policies. The representation of the circular economy in the region has reached its highest level in Slovenia. As early as 2016, Slovenia began its strategic and systemic circular transformation immediately after the publication of the Circular Economy Package, which the European Commission adopted in 2015. The Roadmap for Circular Economy in Slovenia set the path to becoming the leader of the circular economy in the region. One of the first and most necessary steps was the establishment of recycling centers and a separate waste collection system, which in just a few years helped reduce the amount of landfill waste, bringing Slovenia to the European top in recycling rates. Since 2018, this country has had a mandatory green public procurement system. Compliance with environmental protection aspects in public procurement procedures is compulsory for electricity, food, textile products, office paper, televisions, refrigerators, and building construction, roads, lighting, tires, traffic signs, etc. Large export-oriented companies were the first to recognize the benefits of the circular economy in Slovenia.

Interview by Jasna Dragojević

The inteview was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Under Pressure from the Automotive Industry – EU Revises 2025 Electrification Targets

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (sophie-jonas)

The European Union, under one of its transport sector regulations, had set a binding target to reduce average CO₂ emissions from new cars by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. However, the same regulation also included a specific interim target for 2025, aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This 2025 target has recently been revised in light of mounting pressure from the automotive industry.

Weakened 2025 Targets

In early March 2025, the European Commission announced a decision to relax the emission reduction targets for 2025 concerning new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The new approach introduces a more flexible emissions monitoring mechanism. Rather than requiring manufacturers to strictly meet the 2025 target within that calendar year, they are now allowed to achieve the goal based on a three-year average of emissions—covering the period of 2025, 2026, and 2027. This means that if a manufacturer fails to meet the prescribed limits in 2025, it will have two more years to make up for the shortfall, provided that the average emissions across the three years remain within the limits originally set for 2025.

This decision, part of the broader Automotive Industry Action Plan, follows intense lobbying from car manufacturers who have warned of the challenges in meeting stringent environmental standards, particularly in light of the recent slowdown in electric vehicle sales. The situation has also led to factory closures and job losses among traditional car and parts manufacturers across Europe.

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Nevertheless, the long-term goals for 2030 and 2035 remain unchanged, including the plan to reach zero-emission new vehicles by 2035. The short-term relaxation has sparked mixed reactions. While some believe that the additional time will give the industry space to adapt and invest in emission-reduction technologies—rather than paying penalties—others warn it could delay the shift to electric mobility.

The organization E-Mobility Europe has voiced concerns that the revised targets may weaken demand for electric vehicles, reduce investment predictability, and undermine the competitiveness of manufacturers who have already committed to decarbonization.

The decision is seen as the result of several converging factors, with one of the most significant being pressure from carmakers—particularly those that have not yet made substantial investments in electric mobility. Other contributing factors include inflation, rising energy costs, and geopolitical instability, all of which have prompted lawmakers to take a more cautious approach. Also critical are the disparities in infrastructure development and purchasing power among EU member states, which led to the conclusion that uniform application of targets across the European market may not be fair or feasible.

The question remains whether similar challenges will arise with each upcoming milestone.

Milica Vučković

Naled Advocates For More Efficient Municipal Waste Management in 2025

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

S erbia has planned 26 regional landfills to serve as storage centers for municipal waste, but currently, only ten are in operation. The biggest issue is the disposal of municipal waste in locations that lack proper infrastructure and are not designated for this purpose. If municipal waste is stored in unsanitary and uncontrolled landfills, it can further contaminate groundwater and surrounding water sources.

Photo: Courtesy of Slobodan Krstović

The good news is that, as part of the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s activities, work is underway on the construction of six new regional landfills, which could somewhat improve the situation. Waste that ends up in nature, unsanitary landfills, or illegal dumpsites poses a serious risk to human life and health. Due to the lack of primary waste separation, various other waste components are often found in municipal waste, including metals, construction debris, and medical and pharmaceutical waste.

This is why it is crucial to work on developing a primary waste separation system, which involves collecting and sorting waste at the source. Serbia is aligned with EU regulations regarding municipal waste management laws, but the problem lies in their implementation.

The situation on the ground does not match what is prescribed by law. The main issues are insufficient infrastructure and a lack of public awareness. Additionally, local governments often lack the capacity to implement their responsibilities effectively with the resources and funding available. This is why pilot projects and EU funds can serve as a significant boost, especially for smaller municipalities. 

IN FOCUS:

A successful example is the cross-border cooperation project BEST Cooperation in Waste Management – Towards a Sustainable Environment, funded by the European Union and implemented by NALED in collaboration with the Center for Ecotoxicological Research. Participants in the project included the City of Novi Pazar and the Municipality of Tutin in Serbia, as well as the municipalities of Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje, and Kolašin in Montenegro.

Photo: NALED

These municipalities have gained tangible benefits, including guidelines and infrastructure improvements that enable them to manage municipal waste more effectively. Novi Pazar received 1,500 waste bins and a waste collection vehicle, while Mojkovac received 500 bins and a waste baling press. Field results indicate that residents in these areas are developing greater environmental awareness and taking better care of their surroundings. Some former problematic landfills have now become examples of good waste management. Additionally, certain waste management centers operate according to the highest standards, using the best available technologies. For instance, the Vinča landfill has significantly improved municipal waste collection in Belgrade, and the next step should be utilizing municipal waste as an energy source.

Another critical measure is the improvement of the deposit return system for collecting packaging waste, which NALED has been advocating for years. There are announcements that this system will be implemented by 2027. Initially, the deposit system will focus on plastic bottles and aluminum cans. This is a return system, meaning that once products are consumed, the packaging will no longer end up in municipal landfills but will be returned to the production cycle.

NALED is also promoting the use of new digital solutions, including applications that will enable a modern packaging waste management system in Serbia.

The European Union co-financed this project under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) through the Serbia-Montenegro Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014- 2020. The funding agreement with the European Union was signed with the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia—Sector for Contracting and Financing Programs from EU Funds.

Slobodan Krstović

The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Controversial Biofuels: Deception Over Palm Waste Threatens Green Goals

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Kayla Phaneuf)

European biofuel policies have led to serious environmental issues, including global deforestation. Biofuels are produced by processing biomass – organic materials such as plants, agricultural residues, or waste.

However, due to negative consequences, the European Union has shifted its focus toward more sustainable solutions – waste-based biofuels, such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and residues from palm oil production.

New Strategy, Familiar Problems

The new strategy has once again encountered significant problems. There has been a sharp increase in imports of palm oil production residues – waste liquids generated during the processing of palm fruit.

More:

According to the latest report by Transport & Environment (T&E), the amount of such residues reported in the EU significantly exceeds what could possibly be produced. This discrepancy raises concerns about possible fraud in the supply chain – specifically, that regular palm oil products are being falsely declared as waste in order to circumvent bans and strict environmental regulations.

If these suspicions are confirmed, it would mean that under the guise of green and sustainable solutions, the palm oil industry is still being supported – an industry well known for its destructive impact on tropical forests and biodiversity. In other words, forests are being cleared to produce biofuels meant to reduce CO₂ emissions, while at the same time destroying the very forests that absorb CO₂.

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