The Household of the Future – A Farm as an Energy Producer

27.07.2025

In the serene region near the town of Ub, there is a company that has nurtured a tradition and dedication to agriculture for generations – Stočar LSB d.o.o.

The family story has been passed down for generations, culminating in the formal establishment of the company in 1991, deeply rooted in the land and traditions of the Leontijević family.

Today, the estate cultivates as much as 1,400 hectares of arable land, of which 1,000 hectares are under corn and 400 under wheat – all dedicated to feeding livestock exclusively with crops grown on their fields. This closed-loop production system, from field to table, is the foundation of the trust consumers place in their products.

The grains are stored in silos with a capacity of 30,000 tons, while bulky feed is stored directly on the farms. Within the silo complex, there is a mixing facility for preparing complete feed mixtures for cattle.

At the heart of this story are two farms – Farm Orašac, with a capacity of 2,000 head of cattle, and Farm Radobić, which currently accommodates 1,000 head but is undergoing reconstruction that will increase its capacity by an additional 500 head.

However, the company’s self-sustainability is also reflected in its electricity production. At the Radobić farm, a 1 MW biogas plant is in its final phase of construction. It will be powered by organic waste from farms and silos.

IN FOCUS:

The company MT-KOMEX, specialized in building solar power plants and experienced in energy infrastructure, has had a long-standing collaboration with the Stočar LSB, starting with the installation of two rooftop solar power plants. The first plant, with a capacity of 40 kW, is registered as a prosumer, meaning that part of the electricity is used on-site, while the surplus is fed into the grid. This power plant currently meets approximately 80 percent of the facility’s energy needs. The second power plant, with a capacity of 350 kW, is also installed on the company’s rooftops.

Following the successful implementation of these projects and the high-quality technical support, the company once again turned to MT-KOMEX to carry out energy connection works for the biogas plant under construction at the Radobić farm, which will have an installed capacity of 1 MW.

During the final construction phase of the biogas plant, MT-KOMEX completed the following key electrical infrastructure works. Two transformer substations were built: the first is intended for supplying the farm’s and plant’s internal energy needs. It contains the main distribution switchgear for the entire complex, which will be transferred to Elektrodistribucija’s ownership upon completion of the connection. The second substation, with an installed capacity of 1,600 kVA, is designed as a grid connection point for the biogas power plant. It includes complete low-voltage equipment and a medium-voltage switchgear manufactured by Schneider Electric. This substation also houses a step-up transformer, which raises the voltage from low (the output of the cogeneration unit) to medium (10 kV), ensuring the necessary conditions for grid connection. This solution by MT-KOMEX enables efficient use and grid integration of electricity produced from biogas, closing the energy loop and further enhancing the sustainability of the entire Stočar LSB system.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

The story was published in Energy portal Magazine PURE ENERGY

A Market Driving the Transition: Seepex at the Heart of a New Energy Era

25.07.2025

In the year when the Serbian Power Exchange – SEEPEX marks its tenth anniversary, we spoke with Miloš Mladenović, the CEO of this key energy company, about its development, role in the domestic and regional market, as well as the challenges that the energy transition poses for all stakeholders. From its founding to the present day, SEEPEX has evolved from an innovative idea into a key point on the European energy map, becoming synonymous with market efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. In an interview with Energetski Portal, Mr Mladenović reveals what it takes to build market infrastructure in a dynamic energy environment, what Serbia and the region stand to gain from integration into the ADEX group, and how SEEPEX contributes to strengthening the role of renewable sources and the security of the electricity system.

Q: This year, SEEPEX marks its tenth anniversary. What were the early days of developing an organised electricity market in Serbia like, and where does SEEPEX stand today among European exchanges?

A: As the CEO of SEEPEX, I can proudly say that our development, from our founding in 2015 and the launch of the day-ahead market in February 2016 to where we are today, is the result of commitment, innovation, and a clear vision for creating a stable, efficient, and integrated spot electricity market – not only in Serbia but beyond. Thanks to this, SEEPEX has, in just a few years, established itself as a relevant trading platform, not just nationally but also regionally, with a fully developed spot market framework implemented in line with best European practices. (To recall, in cooperation with EEX, the Serbian futures product was launched in 2019 and is listed directly on the EEX financial derivatives platform.) Today, SEEPEX includes 44 participants from 17 European countries, and trading volume is expected to reach around 5.8 TWh this year on the day-ahead market.

It’s important to note that these exceptional business results were achieved under so-called isolated operation – a unique case in the region, where all other exchanges (including those in the EU) only began achieving such business and financial outcomes after implementing market coupling projects, which significantly boosted liquidity.

Moreover, the integration of SEEPEX (one of the initiators of the so-called Blue Sky project that led to the creation of ADEX) into the ADEX Group is a major step toward further regional and European integration of Serbia’s electricity market. Alongside SEEPEX, the ADEX Group includes HUPX (the Hungarian power exchange) and BSP (the Slovenian power exchange), establishing a unified platform that enables greater liquidity, efficiency, and market transparency. Through the synergy of its members’ and owners’ resources, ADEX – with its clearly defined vision of connecting fragmented markets into a single European market – provides a strong foundation for further improving market conditions, as well as a robust and reliable balance between supply and demand in the spot market.

One could say that SEEPEX, together with its partners in the ADEX Group, continues to push boundaries and deliver the highest European standards in exchange market infrastructure. At the same time, it has in many ways realised its original idea of creating a unified regional exchange.

IN FOCUS:

Q: What benefits has SEEPEX gained from joining the ADEX Group, and what do market participants gain?

A: The first tangible results of the planned synergy within the ADEX Group were achieved just a few months after integration, with the launch of Serbia’s intraday market at the end of July 2023. This was followed by the successful transformation of the Slovenian power exchange BSP’s business model, aligning its clearing function and day-ahead trading platform with that of SEEPEX.

With the planned introduction of a unified membership process and pricing structure, along with harmonised market rules, all participants in the ADEX spot markets will benefit from a so-called one-stop shop solution. This includes harmonised operational and clearing infrastructure, collateral netting and cross-margining, a single procedure, and reduced costs for accessing the spot markets. As the first concrete step in this direction, ADEX will soon implement a unified entry fee, coming into effect mid-month. In practice, this means that all existing participants already trading on one of the three exchanges within the ADEX Group, as well as all new members, will be able to trade on the other exchanges within the group without paying an additional entry fee. This benefit marks the first step in improving service to market participants. Going forward, we will continue strengthening synergies and further harmonising processes within the ADEX Group to equalise business conditions across all markets and enable more efficient and competitive trading.

Q: How important is SEEPEX for the development of renewable energy in Serbia?

A: SEEPEX plays a highly visible and crucial role in this context, particularly in providing a robust and relevant reference price used for longterm financial contracts. This is vital for implementing ongoing government support schemes, industrial and corporate PPAs, and for ensuring a sufficiently liquid day-ahead market capable of absorbing all generated green energy without significantly impacting price levels.

Additionally, the establishment of the intraday spot market has been legally recognised as one of the key prerequisites for the effective integration of renewable electricity sources. It also supports the successful implementation of the new auction-based incentive scheme for long-term power purchase agreements (commonly referred to as Contracts for Difference). Moreover, it plays an important role in reducing balancing costs, both for renewable energy producers and the power system as a whole.

As for SEEPEX’s capacity, with the latest improvements, we can confidently say that the complex market framework has been successfully assembled and is ready to meet the challenges of the green transition. This in turn supports planned actions by state institutions aimed at achieving the ambitious targets of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. Furthermore, by advancing the market model – including involving consumption as an active market participant and introducing new market segments such as flexibility markets and peer-to-peer trading – we aim to accelerate the democratisation of the economy. In the context of the electricity market, this means further application of the marginal pricing concept in energy exchanges, voluntary participation of market players, “democratic” formation of reference prices, decentralisation of energy systems, and the introduction of distributed energy resources. Implicitly, it also means empowering individuals and energy communities to have greater influence over the fair allocation, distribution, and management of economic resources.

Interview by Milena Maglovski

The interview was published in Energy portal Magazine PURE ENERGY

Sarajevo – an Example of Sustainable Urban Development

24.07.2025

One of the main priorities of the Sarajevo city authorities is the development of the so-called City Climate Contract, which will be submitted to the European Union. The aim of this document is for the functional urban area of Sarajevo – encompassing the City of Sarajevo, the Sarajevo Canton, and the City of East Sarajevo – to obtain the Net Zero Label.

This label confirms the local authorities’ commitment to climate policy and opens up the opportunity to use funds from European Union sources, which is crucial for implementing green projects.

We spoke with Mayor Predrag Puharić about the specific steps Sarajevo is taking in the fight against climate change, how citizens are getting involved in these processes, and how the quality of life in the city is improving.

Q: What measures is the City of Sarajevo taking to reduce air pollution?

A: Although this area does not fall directly under the jurisdiction of the City of Sarajevo, reducing air pollution is one of our key priorities. When we asked citizens a few years ago what the biggest issues in Sarajevo were, they cited air pollution, public transport, and corruption. In response to the public’s concerns, we have taken it upon ourselves to contribute to solving this pressing problem. We address this issue through the activities of the City Department for Sustainable Development, which enables us to implement various measures and participate in projects and initiatives focused on this issue.

Through the Smart City initiative, in cooperation with UNDP BiH, we have implemented innovative ideas proposed by citizens. Across various projects and initiatives, we aim to increase green areas and urban vegetation by planting trees, creating urban gardens, and introducing other innovative methods and concepts. A significant step in this area is the joint application by the City of Sarajevo, the City of East Sarajevo, and the Sarajevo Canton to join the EU Mission of 100 climate-neutral cities. The functional urban area of Sarajevo, as we named this comprehensive region, has become part of the Mission and is one of only three cities from the Balkans to be accepted. We are currently developing an Action and Investment Plan, which will form part of the so-called City Climate Contract, and are preparing the First Citizens’ Climate Assembly/Forum in Sarajevo on this topic.

IN FOCUS:

Q: What are the plans to reduce the number of cars in the city centre?

A: Through the implementation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, the City of Sarajevo is working on activities that aim to reduce the use of cars and promote alternative, sustainable forms of urban mobility. We support the efforts and fantastic results of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Transport in improving public transport, which is crucial for reducing the number of cars in the city.

We are developing and expanding cycling infrastructure and promoting cycling in general. Every year, we actively mark European Mobility Week through a range of activities, including subsidies for citizens to purchase bicycles and organizing Bike2Work days to encourage employees in institutions, organizations, and companies to cycle to work.

We are actively working on establishing supporting infrastructure, including the installation of so-called Mobility Islands at two locations. These features include electric vehicle chargers, anti-theft bicycle stands, smart benches, and scooter parking. We are also systematically installing bicycle parking at schools and universities to encourage both students and staff to cycle. Following European and global trends, we support the introduction of new systems, such as electric bicycle rental services, which will offer citizens another form of sustainable mobility and reduce reliance on cars.

Q: How would you assess the waste collection and recycling system?

A: The recycling segment is still significantly behind modern European standards. Aware of this, the City of Sarajevo is making efforts through numerous initiatives to improve both infrastructure and public awareness. To this end, the City works closely with the cantonal public utility company, Rad, and the electronic waste management operator, ZEOS Eco-System, implementing joint actions and pilot projects for sorting, recycling, and education.

One example is the Re-Use Day, which offered citizens a chance to learn, exchange, and donate reusable items. A Cool Bazaar was also held, where children and young people could exchange and sell their used belongings. By involving children and youth, we aim to educate and raise awareness from an early age, thereby promoting a circular economy.

Interview by Jasna Dragojević

The interview was published in Energy portal Magazine PURE ENERGY.

Wimbledon Balls Serving Nature: A New Life in Mouse Apartments

24.07.2025

ChatGPT Image 24. јул 2025. 09_39_53 — Foto: OpenAI

In a world where luxury penthouses are sprouting like mushrooms after the rain, and 30-square-meter flats are called “urban oases,” one British initiative has shown that a true host is not measured by square footage, but by care for its tenants. Welcome to the latest ecological sensation: tennis balls transformed into housing complexes for Britain’s smallest mammals — harvest mice.

This is a real conservation project led by the UK-based wildlife charity The Wildlife Trusts, with none other than the prestigious Wimbledon as a key partner — the breeding ground of sports legends and, of course, used tennis balls. Yes, those very balls that once chased after Djokovic and Federer have found a new purpose: they’ve become miniature homes for tiny tenants.

How does it work?

Very simply and ingeniously — you take a tennis ball, cut a small hole in it, and attach it to a post at the edge of a field. Harvest mice, excellent climbers and even better opportunists, move into these “ball-homes” faster than the average person clicks on a “city-center, fully renovated, move-in ready” apartment ad.

As reported by Core77, Wimbledon uses around 55,000 tennis balls every year, so the potential for a future “mouse city” is more than abundant. While humans struggle with the real estate market, these mice have finally found a way to escape the housing crisis.

Why help mice at all?

Harvest mice aren’t pests — they are small, quiet allies of farmers. They help control populations of actual pests, reducing the need for pesticides, and they play a key role in the food chain.

Unfortunately, these rodents face serious challenges. Their natural habitats have been destroyed or fragmented by modern agriculture. Combine harvesters, pesticides, harsh weather, predators — all place enormous pressure on harvest mice, while the question of their survival is rarely considered in development planning or agricultural practices.

Luckily, the tennis ball initiative has proven that these adorable rodents are well worth protecting — even though, as the British conservation group Wildwood notes, they are still not protected by law.

In short — harvest mice deserve a place in the sun, even if it’s through a hole in a tennis ball.

Milena Maglovski