“Democratization of Energy in Serbia” workshop organized by DECA partner CORE

Raising citizens’ awareness about community energy, improving regulatory framework and strengthening local institutional capacities are all needed in the effort to accelerate the development of energy communities in Serbia, it was concluded at the recent workshop organised by DECA partner organization CORE.
In June 2024, the Center for Sustainable Energy Development (CORE) held a workshop titled “Democratization of Energy in Serbia” under the auspices of the DECA project. The two-day event held on the mountain of Zlatibor, Serbia, gathered over 15 experts in the field of energy from all over the country to discuss the key challenges and potentials of enhancing the development of community energy in Serbia.
Representatives of local governments, as well as experts from civil society and academia, joined their efforts to identify what needs to be done in order to create a stimulating environment for citizen-led energy initiatives and for the promotion of renewable energy sources. Having in mind their various expertise, they discussed institutional, regulatory, technical and social barriers that prevent the potential of community energy to be fully explored and used. 
Their inputs based on professional experience with community energy contributed to identifying key points of the Local Energy Transition Needs Assessment chapter for Serbia. The workshop also included a presentation of the DECA project, its objectives, timeline and the next steps.