EBRD supports Serbia 2nd renewables auction

It said that it would support the renewables projects through a contract-for-difference (CfD) scheme for 15 years. “The approved maximum bid prices are €79/MWh for wind and €72/MWh for solar PV. The launch follows technical cooperation between the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which was supported by the government of Switzerland via a grant from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)”, it added.

The auction is part of Serbia’s three-year plan to get market-premium support for 1,300 MW of renewables with a regulatory framework developed with EBRD technical assistance, co-funded by SECO.

It quoted EBRD Regional Director for the Western Balkans Matteo Colangeli as saying that the auction is an important signal to investors and all market participants about the country’s commitment to scaling up wind and solar energy. “A commitment that we intend to continue supporting in the years ahead through more investments, technical assistance and policy advice,” he said.

Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic is quoted as saying that the increased capacity from clean sources contribute to greater economic growth and an increase in foreign direct investment.