A Unique Portal for
Citizen Energy Communities Launched

By amending the Energy Law at the end of 2024, the Republic of Serbia formally introduced the possibility of establishing citizen energy communities, building upon the prosumer framework that was introduced in 2021. This further expanded the framework for collective decentralized energy production, including citizens who don’t have their own rooftops for installing solar power plants.

Although the key by-laws are still pending, the Environment Improvement Center has launched the portal energetske-zajednice.rs with the aim of consolidating available information on the legal and practical functioning of energy communities in Serbia.

“Energy communities represent a new institutional framework in Serbia that enables collective participation of citizens in the production and sharing of energy, as well as in other energy-related activities such as energy efficiency, energy storage, electromobility services, and even energy sales on the market.

So far there hasn’t been central place for information, we launched the portal with the intention of clearly explaining the concept of citizen-organized energy communities. Our goal is to provide up-to-date information on the legislative framework, its implementation and further development, and to inspire and empower citizens through examples that demonstrate that it’s possible to produce and share energy in solidarity, locally, and responsibly. Energy communities are a natural continuation of the process of democratization of the energy system, and we believe that the energy transition can only be successful if citizens are involved as active participants, rather than merely consumers,” said Ivana Jovčić, Director of the Environment Improvement Center.

The portal energetske-zajednice.rs provides key information on energy communities in Serbia — from explanations of core concepts and types of communities, to the conditions for their establishment, membership and activities, as well as an overview of the applicable legislation and energy-sharing models.

The portal also offers a practical guide, explanations of procedures, and examples from European countries, in order to give citizens a clear understanding of how energy communities operate and how they can be established in practice.

“We have always been taught that the energy sector is too complex, that it’s the domain of large systems, major investors, and big decisions made behind closed doors. The portal on energy communities is a place where knowledge and information are accessible to everyone, but it’s also a place where, through concrete examples, we challenge the myth that energy is reserved only for large energy companies.

Energy communities are not a mere technical detail in the law — they are a political idea. The idea that a local community has the right to decide. The idea that profits don’t have to go far from where energy is produced. The idea that energy communities can become a tool for reducing energy poverty. In this sense, energy communities are, above all, social projects, and only then energy projects,” added Vladan Šćekić, Program Director of the Environment Improvement Center.

The portal will continue to be developed as a central one-stop shop for information on energy communities in Serbia, with its content regularly updated in line with regulatory changes and the evolving practice in this field.