Serbia Doubles Solar Power in Just One Year

Serbia just shattered its own solar power record, installing 134.3 MW of clean energy capacity in a single year and proving that even modest-sized nations can make massive climate progress.

The 2025 installation represents a 68% jump from the 80 MW added in 2024, bringing Serbia's total solar capacity to 318.3 MW. That might sound technical, but here's what it means: thousands more homes powered by sunshine instead of fossil fuels, cleaner air for Serbian families, and lower energy bills for businesses betting on a sustainable future.

The growth is happening everywhere. Large utility-scale solar farms account for 192.2 MW of capacity, but everyday Serbians are driving change too. Over 4,400 households have installed rooftop solar panels, generating 37.1 MW of power. Businesses, schools, churches, and government buildings add another 88.8 MW across 1,600+ installations.

Danijela Isailovic, general manager of RES Serbia, says people are motivated by two things: cutting their energy costs and being part of Serbia's energy transition. That combination of practical economics and environmental hope is proving powerful.

The country's second renewable energy auction awarded rights to build 176.6 MW of new solar projects. The biggest winner was the 105 MW Solarina project in eastern Serbia, expected to break ground in 2026. Turkish company Fortis Energy received permits for an even larger 270 MW solar farm paired with battery storage in northwestern Serbia.

State-owned Elektroprivreda Srbije launched its first solar plant last year, a 10 MW installation built on an old mining dump site. The company plans to transform other abandoned industrial sites into clean energy generators, turning environmental scars into sources of hope.

The Ripple Effect

Serbia's solar surge shows how clean energy momentum builds on itself. Every successful project makes the next one easier. Every household that installs panels inspires neighbors to do the same. Every megawatt reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and keeps money in local communities.

The country faces real challenges. Permitting delays slowed some projects in 2025, and Isailovic warns the same issues could limit 2026 installations. Serbia's government still hasn't announced the third renewable energy auction that industry leaders are requesting.

But the trend is unmistakable. Serbia has ambitious plans for 1 GW of solar across six sites by 2027, a separate 500 MW project, and even a 1 GW solar panel factory. What seemed impossible a few years ago now feels inevitable.

The transformation happening across Serbian rooftops, farms, and former industrial sites proves that climate action doesn't require being the biggest or the richest country—it just requires getting started and keeping going.