Serbia is characterized by a high share of coal in the total primary energy, mostly low-calorie lignite, about 49 %, which is predominantly used for electricity production. There are seven thermal power plants in Serbia, and together with combined heat and power plants, they participate with 57.4 % in the capacities for electricity production.
The Government of Serbia has adopted a decision on the establishment of the Council for giving proposals and opinions regarding the operation of coal-fired thermal power plants and replacement capacities from all energy sources by 2050.
Among other things, the Council will work on the analysis of possible measures and activities aimed at implementing decarbonization, analysis and revitalization of existing power plants, which should provide a sustainable way of electricity production. The President of the Council will be the Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic and the Deputy President will be the Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujovic.
In 2020, the power plants in Serbia achieved a total electricity production of 35,540 GWh, of which coal-fired thermal power plants produced 68.6 % of that amount. In the second place, hydropower plants produced 26.5 % of electricity, while the share of combined heat and power plants is 0.5 %. Wind farms produced 2.5 % of the total.