In a significant advancement for renewable energy in Serbia, the Serbian oil company NIS has inaugurated a new ground-mounted solar power plant at its oil products storage facility in Novi Sad. This project marks the largest solar initiative undertaken by NIS to date, with an expected annual electricity generation of approximately 8.7 GWh, positioning it among the largest operational solar plants in the country.
The solar installation encompasses around 10 hectares and is equipped with nearly 12,000 photovoltaic panels. This substantial addition to NIS’s energy portfolio is projected to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions by about 10,000 tons annually, underscoring the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
With the commissioning of this facility, NIS has effectively tripled its total solar power capacity. The newly established plant boasts an output of 6.8 MW, which is capable of supplying electricity to approximately 2,000 average Serbian households each year. The generated electricity will be directly integrated into the national distribution network and sold commercially, enhancing energy availability in the region.
The Novi Sad solar facility complements NIS’s existing solar initiatives, which include installations at 78 petrol stations throughout Serbia. The company has also deployed additional solar capacity at various industrial and administrative sites. Notable projects within this broader portfolio include:
- A hybrid solar system with a capacity of 620 kW located at the Jazak drinking water production facility, featuring both rooftop and ground-mounted configurations.
- A rooftop installation of 585 kW at the Novi Sad oil derivatives storage site.
- A smaller rooftop system generating 100 kW at NIS’s business building.
- Six rooftop solar plants at the Pančevo oil refinery, collectively producing 610 kW.
Overall, NIS’s solar installations now have a combined capacity of approximately 11.3 MW, anticipated to generate around 13.5 GWh of electricity annually. Collectively, these projects are expected to contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 15,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent each year, reinforcing Serbia’s transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
