Author: Stevan Vujasinović

The population in rural areas in the municipalities of Priboj, Čajetina and Arilje in Serbia have been heavily affected for years with frequent and prolonged interruptions in electricity supply. The interruptions not only disturb everyday life but they also substantially hinder the development of family businesses, especially in tourism and agriculture. However, solutions do exist.

Regional Development Agency Zlatibor almost simultaneously marked World Energy Efficiency Day (March 5) and International Women’s Day (March 8) last week. On the occasion, it organized “energy discussions” with members of women’s associations in rural areas of these municipalities, and the main topics were energy efficiency and renewable energy sources for rural households.

The Zlatibor mountain is one of Serbia’s main tourist and skiing resorts. It partly spans the territories of Priboj, Čajetina and Arilje.

Energy needs and challenges in rural households

“We are without power for several hours at a time in the winter. It is not only discomfort, but a serious problem for heating and preserving food, and especially for us who have guests in rural tourism”, said one of the participants at a discussion in Čajetina. The event gathered the members of the Čajetina Rural Women’s Association and Zlata association.

It became clear from the discussions that there is great interest in installing solar panels, among private households as well as hospitality facilities. However, the access to these technologies is often difficult because of high initial costs and complex procedures for obtaining subsidies, which despite growth in the available volume for the purpose still don’t meet all the existing demand.

High initial expenses and complex procedures for obtaining subsidies make the availability of solar panel installations more difficult

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many houses in the villages were built illegally, making it more difficult to access energy efficiency subsidies. Besides, the calls are too often only accessible for the beneficiaries that already have initial capital to invest, while the village population often doesn’t know about them.

The Municipality of Čajetina acknowledges the significance of energy efficiency. Last year it issued a public call for cofunding energy efficiency measures in family houses and apartments. However, targeted support for users with the vulnerable energy buyer statuses still hasn’t been provided. Assistance could additionally improve the availability of these measures to the wider population, and in fact the very people who need help the most.

Possibilities for using renewable energy sources

One of the key conclusions of the discussion was that solar panels and heat pumps can significantly improve the situation. Aleksandar Macura from RES Foundation pointed out that the law already enables households to produce their own energy and exchange it with state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). “There are sufficient examples of good practice – around 2,500 households in Serbia already use rooftop power plants and work as buyers-producers,” Macura stated.

Buyers-producers are Serbia’s legal category for prosumers.

Nevertheless, solar panels still require initial investments of several thousand euros, which is an insurmountable obstacle for many. The participants in the discussion proposed solutions such as subsidized loans with delayed payment, in installments, to make the technology more accessible both to retirees and socially disadvantaged persons.

Assembling and energy communities

Another important aspect of the discussion was the possibility of establishing energy communities. In line with European regulations, Serbia is opening the space for joint production and use of solar energy within local communities.

It means any village council could install a solar power plant and distribute the energy among households. It would be especially useful for women running family businesses in agriculture and tourism, as it would provide them with a stable energy source without leaning on an unpredictable power distribution network.

Wood is traditional but inefficient energy source

Wood biomass usage still dominates in many rural households. Some said in Arilje: “Wood is irreplaceable” and “we believe in wood!” However, for people in villages, wood is almost never, even though it is the most accessible, never the most efficient solution for heating. It is partly because of moisture in the solid fuel, and mostly because of inefficient devices.

There are fewer and fewer people in the countryside, so it is getting more difficult and more expensive to timely obtain the wood felling and preparation service, even in one’s own forest. “We have been using wood for decades, but who today can afford quality dried wood? We often heat ourselves using wet wood, which only increases consumption and air pollution,” said one of the participants in an event in Arilje, describing her experience. It was attended by women from two associations: Sibirka and Ariljka.

How to proceed?

It is clear that rural communities mustn’t be left behind in the energy transition process. Solar panels, energy communities and subsidies for more efficient heating are solutions that can bring concrete changes. However, the key to success lies in a greater accessibility of these solutions for all citizens, regardless of their financial situation or the place of residence.

Energy sustainability in rural communities is not just a matter of comfort but also of the survival and development of local communities. If we want villages to be vital and economically stable, it is necessary to facilitate a stable, sustainable and affordable energy source for them. Through smart investments, better subsidy organization and the development of energy communities it is possible to significantly improve the quality of life in these areas. In addition, additional training in the usage and maintenance of energy-efficient systems can contribute to a greater deployment of the technologies.

The energy discussions with the women of the Zlatibor county was organized within the project Improving the Use of Sustainable Energy in the Zlatibor region, financed by the German Organization for International Cooperation (GIZ) by order of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – BMZ).