Energy consumption in the buildings sector in Serbia increased by 24% between 1990 and 2019. However, the sector’s emissions grew more modestly in the same period, by 8% to 2.2 MtCO₂e/yr.6 Final energy demand of the sector relies mostly on electricity (43% in 2019), biomass (24% in 2019) and heating networks (13% in 2019).
Our analysis of 1.5°C compatible pathways show the share of electricity in the building sector’s energy mix rising from 43% in 2019 to between 56–61% in 2030 and 69–80% in 2050.
In April 2021, the Serbian government passed the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy which established a government agency charged with managing the financing of energy efficiency improvements.10 The law enables subsidising energy efficiency renovations in public buildings, and granting VAT and customs waivers for the purchase and installation of equipment that improve energy efficiency. To help drive further emissions reductions in the buildings sector, the law should be expanded to include residential buildings.
1 Republic of Serbia. Nationally Determined Contribution ( NDC ) of the Republic of Serbia for the 2021 – 2030 period. (2022).
2 Energy Community. Secretariat welcomes Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans – Energy Community Homepage. (2020).
3 Republic of Serbia. Draft Low Carbon Development Strategy with Action plan. (2019).
4 Gütschow, J., Günther, A. & Pflüger, M. The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series v2.3 (1750-2019)..
5 Republic of Serbia. Second National Communication of Turkmenistan Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Eng_Serbia.pdf (2017).
6 IEA. World Energy Balances: 2021 version. (2021).
7 Republic of Serbia. Draft Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021 – 2030 of the Republic of Serbia with a vision by 2050.(2022).
8 Republic of Serbia. Zakon o korišćenju obnovljivih izvora energije – Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources. Službeni glasnik RS (2021).
9 eKapija. eKapija | Gde smo godinu dana nakon donošenja Zakona o korišćenju obnovljivih izvora energije – Prikaz regulatornog okvira. (2022).
10 Republic of Serbia. Указ о проглашењу Закона о енергетској ефикасности и рационалној употреби енергије Закон о енергетској ефикасности и рационалној употреби енергије – Decree on Promulgation of the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy Law on Energy Efficiency. (2021).
11 Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia. Уредба о условима и начину спровођења субвенционисане куповине нових возила која имају искључиво електрични погон, као и возила која уз мотор са унутрашњим сагоревањем покреће и електрични погон (хибридни погон) | Министарство заштите животне средине – Regulation on the conditions and method of implementing the subsidized purchase of new vehicles that have an exclusively electric drive, as well as vehicles that, in addition to the internal combustion engine, are powered by an electric drive (hy…. (2022).
12 Balkan Green Energy News. Građanima Srbije i u 2023. subvencije za kupovinu električnih i hibridnih vozila. (2022).
13 EconStor. EconStor: Orient/East-Med Corridor: Challenges and potentials. (2019).
14 Srbijatransport Beograd. Saobraćajni sistem Srbije. (2020).
15 Using projected LULUCF emissions by 2030 from Serbia’s NDC document to estimate the absolute emissions level including LULUCF. See assumptions here.
Serbiaʼs energy mix in the buildings sector
petajoule per year
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Oil and e-fuels
- Biofuel
- Biogas
- Biomass
- Hydrogen
- Electricity
- Heat
Serbiaʼs buildings sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)
MtCO₂/yr
- Historical emissions
- SSP1 High CDR reliance
- SSP1 Low CDR reliance
- High energy demand - Low CDR reliance
- Low energy demand
1.5°C compatible buildings sector benchmarks
Direct CO₂ emissions and shares of electricity, heat and biomass in the buildings final energy demand from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Serbia
Indicator | 2019 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 | Decarbonised buildings sector by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Direct CO₂ emissions MtCO₂/yr | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2030 to 2032 |
Indicator | 2019 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Share of electricity Percent | 43 | 56 to 61 | 66 to 69 | 69 to 80 |
Share of heat Percent | 13 | 15 to 22 | 17 to 24 | 22 to 25 |
Share of hydrogen Percent | 0 | 1 to 10 | 9 to 12 | 13 to 17 |