Markets

Serbia Concludes Renewable Energy Auction

Energy Ministry Awards 400 MW To Wind Energy Projects As Solar Category Was Undersubscribed

Anu Bhambhani
  • Serbia has completed its 450 MW renewable energy auction, the 1st for the country  
  • Solar energy segment was undersubscribed with only 13.5 MW bids coming in for 50 MW quota  
  • Lowest winning bid among successful solar projects came in at €88.65/MWh against a €90/MWh ceiling tariff

Wind energy hogged Serbia's maiden renewable energy auction, winning all of 400 MW offered, whereas the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MRE) selected 3 projects with a combined capacity of 11.6 MW out of 50 MW of solar PV capacity on offer.   

There was significant undersubscription for solar category with bids coming in for a total of 13.5 MW by the 3 winners who finally contracted 11.6 MW. It was the opposite for the wind energy segment where bids came in for a total of 519.1 MW, and the ministry selected 4 projects with an aggregate capacity of 400 MW. 

The selected solar power projects included a 4 MW plant of Hiperion Sol that offered the lowest winning bid of €88.65/MWh against the ceiling of €90/MWh. Novo Selo Power was selected for 6.4 MW, while Terra Solar bagged 1.2 MW capacity, for €89.8/MWh each.  

For wind energy facilities, the tariffs were capped at €105/MWh and the lowest winning bid of €64.48/MWh was selected for Vetrozelena's 210 MW capacity.  

Winning projects will be supported under the 15-year contracts for difference (CfD) mechanism. 

The list of winning solar and wind energy projects is available on a dedicated website of the ministry.  

The auction was launched in June 2023, as part of the country's 3-year Incentive System Plan to contract 1.3 GW capacity (see Wind & Solar Auction Launched In Serbia).   

In July 2023, the Serbian Energy Ministry launched a public call for a strategic partner for a 1.2 GW DC/1.0 GW AC utility-scale solar and storage power plant (see Serbia Seeking Strategic Partner For 1 GW Solar).