Serbia adds 61 MW of solar in H1

Serbia commissioned around 61 MW of solar during the first half of 2026, according to data shared by the Association Renewable Energy Sources of Serbia (RES Serbia).

The country’s cumulative solar capacity stood at 318.3 MW by the end of 2025, consisting of 192.2 MW of solar connected to the distribution grid and 125.9 MW in the prosumer market.

RES Serbia told pv magazine that as of the mid-year, prosumer solar capacity had risen to 147 MW, an increase of 21.1 MW on the start of the year, while there are now 223 solar power plants connected to the distribution grid covering 232.82 MW of capacity, an increase of 40.6 MW. These increases take cumulative capacity to around 379 MW.

Danijela Isailovic, RES Serbia general manager, explained that Serbia’s green energy sector faced significant challenges during the first six months of the year, particularly in relation to permitting and grid connection processes.

In May, the Serbian government decided to postpone new grid connection studies for variable renewable energy projects until 2029-2030, which Isailovic said has proven to be a bottleneck for investors, delaying the realization of several projects and limiting the pace of new capacity additions.

Despite these challenges, Isailovic said the demand for new solar capacities remains strong, driven by households and businesses seeking to reduce energy costs and contribute to Serbia’s energy transition.

“The full implementation of the active consumers framework is a major success,” Isailovic told pv magazine. “It has already encouraged companies to take concrete steps toward integrating solar into their operations.”

Zrenjanin-based Linglong International Europe and Belgrade-headquartered HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel became the first companies to submit requests to Serbian transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije to connect solar power plants to the transmission system under the active consumer status, Isailovic explained. Linglong has submitted a 39.9 MW request and HBIS a 63 MW project. To date, there are no solar plants connected to Serbia’s transmission system.

Isailovic added that there are other large-scale projects set to begin construction, including the 300 MW Brebex solar power plant and the 150 MW Solarina project, the latter of which was awarded under Serbia’s second renewables auction. Other projects in the pipeline include the Noćaj 1 and Noćaj 2 solar projects, from Fortis Energy and Construction, which will integrate battery storage.

There are currently 24 battery storage projects that have submitted complete requests for grid connection studies, with a total approved capacity of 4,530.6 MWh, Isailovic said, while several smaller projects are currently in the process of connection under Serbia’s existing Energy Law.

Looking ahead, Isailovic said she hopes certain regulatory challenges will be reduced in the second half of the year, allowing projects to move forward more smoothly. 

“If these barriers are addressed, other green energy projects should be able to develop and be built according to plan,” she told pv magazine. “While the first half of the year has been marked by delays, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic, with expectations that Serbia’s solar sector will continue to grow.”