According to the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Value Added Tax, the trade and import of wood briquettes and pellets are going to be taxed at a special VAT rate of 10%.
According to the proposal, which is adopted and forwarded as urgent by the Government of the Republic of Serbia to the parliamentary procedure, the reduction of VAT for trade and import of wood briquettes and pellets from the current 20 to 10 percent, should contribute to an increase in employment in this field, which will also compensate the loss based on the reduction in the state budget.
It is proposed to apply the amendments of the Law on VAT from January 1st 2017.
The National Biomass Association SERBIO held the latest in a series of this year's information days on which citizens of Serbia got to know the possibilities and advantages of biomass heating. It was held in the framework of the Novi Sad Winterfest,
These campaigns for consumers are part of the major European project BIORES. In Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, in which the switch from fossil fuels to woody biofuels is still at the very beginning, this project aims to raise awareness on how the use of biomass, especially pellets and briquettes that citizens can use to heat, reduces to the minimum the negative effects on the environment, but also ensures long-term economic sustainability and stability.
In addition to informing the individual consumers in Serbia about advantages of the woody biofuels, the association SERBIO promotes this renewable source of energy in great industrial and utility systems in Serbia, as well as local governments.
Currently, a large number of municipal heating plants burdens financially the local governments, so the transition from fossil fuels to woody biofuels could provide significant cost savings for local governments, given that the operational costs of biomass heating are lower than fossilfuel heating, and that the investment costs can be covered through a favorable loans that are available, or the development of the investment can be implemented through a public - private partnership.
According to the information from the Association SERBIO, about 20 central heating systems in Serbia is in various stages of project development at this moment, which include the replacement of fossil fuels with biomass. Some municipalities, such as Bajina Basta and Mali Zvornik, could have installed biomass solutions by the end of the season.
In order to use biomass as an energy source in a larger extent, SERBIO is working to develop the Serbian market, to guarantee a sufficient amount of biomass in continuity to businesses that exceed biomass, to solve the problem of its storage by introducing the innovative concept of Biomass Logistic and Trade Centers.
All information about the benefits of biomass as an energy source, and how to switch to this system of energy production in Serbia, can be obtained on the website of the Association SERBIO, on which are also informative brochures accessible, and you can send your questions to the e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
„Sustainable regional suply chains for woody bioenergy“
On Tuesday, November 22nd the National Biomass Association SERBIO, in cooperation with the PE National Park „Tara“ and the Finnish Institute for natural resources „Luke“, held a training on sustainable supply chains for woody bioenergy and biomass logistic and trade centres, on whose initiation in Serbia works the National Biomass Association SERBIO, within the European Project BioRES.
The training was a combination of theory and praxis, i.e. lectures and demonstration of logging and extraction of wood assortments and biomass.
The training was opened by the executive of PE National Park „Tara“, Dragić Karaklić, while the vice president of the National Biomass Association SERBIO and manager of the BioRes project in Serbia, Vojislav Milijić, had the honor to present the BioRes project and the concept of biomass logistic and trade centres. The representatives of NP Tara, Aleksandar Đurić and Branka Mitrović, presented the National Park, forest management planning in the National Park and ways of selling wood. The guests from Finland, dr Juha Laitila and dr Kari Pasanen, presented ways of using wood biomass in Finland, as well as the importance of the quality of wood fuel.
With the expert explanations by Dragan Đurić, the participants had the opportunity to become familiar with the work on the field: the process of marking trees for logging, tree felling, tree processing and tailoring, as well as extraction of wood assortments.
Polaznici treninga obišli su i preduzeće Gorštak doo, gde im je Dragan Stanković, rukovodilac prerade drveta u preduzeću, predstavio proizvodnju drvne sečke i peleta.
The participants also had the opportunity to visit the company „Gorštak“ d.o.o, where Dragan Stanković, manager of wood procesing, presented the production of wood chips and pellets.
„Sustainable regional suply chains for woody bioenergy“
During Saturday and Sunday, November 26th and 27th, the National Biomass Assocication SERBIO held a training on sustainable suply chains for woody bioenergy and logistics, on whose initiation in Serbia works the National Biomass Association SERBIO, within the European Project BioRES. The trainings are held in the framework of a multi-conference SERBIAN VISIONS 2016, a project of the German-Serbian Chamber of commerce.
The vice president of the National Biomass Association SERBIO and manager of the BioRes project in Serbia, Vojislav Milijić,pointed out that these local or regional centers with optimized organization of trade and logistics, where various products, based on biomass of standardized quality, are traded, are very important for the development of the energy sector in Serbia.
He explained that in the initial phase BLTC's can be a platform for marketing and sales, and that in the later stages they should develop into centers,wich have there own production, storage and logistics. In addition to the construction of these centers, the aim of the association SERBIO is to help ensuring the conclusion of a contract on the sale of on average at least 8,000 tonnes a year, which means 1,000 to 1,500 tons of energy in one center.
According to him, the key criteria for the opening of these centers are the existence of interested private investors and local administration, the existence of consumer awareness and demand on the market, as well as existence of potential. Based on that statement, there are already some potential locations recognized in Serbia, such as Nova Varoš, Priboj, Bajina Bašta, Šabac and Žitište.For four locations the feasibility study is already done, and by all accounts, the first logistics center will be opened in Bajina Basta, said Milijić. Also, he acquainted the trainees with the operational, investment and administrative costs, as well as the necessary technical equipment in the centers.
Ratko Todorović, B.E. in Forestry, spoke of the EU Regulation, wood trade and forest and products certification. He pointed out that the focus of the European regulation is on the ban of illegal felled timber trade and products of such wood in the EU market, and for this reason the operators must ensure the traceability of wood through the supply chain from the moment of logging onwards.
Đorđe Marić, Master Engineer in Forestry, recapped the supply and demand of biomass in the region and stressed the important questions that potential investors should pay attention to. He emphasized that it is important to know the quantity and quality of biomass, that is actually available in the chosen field and who are the potential suppliers and customers. He also explained, that the development of the BLTC is a very complex endeavor, that the methods, used to analyze environmental conditions, are the same as for any other type of investment and that in searching for sources of funding, all phases of the trend of replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources should be used. For the centers to be successful, he said, all the factors of supply chain of the BLTC must have the economic, environmental and social benefits.
Since January 2015, The National Biomass Association SERBIO conducts the project BioRes by the name „Sustainable regional suply chains for woody bioenergy“. The project aims to establish logistics and trade centers for biomass (BLTC) and to increase the market share of domestic wood fuel of controlled quality and from forests that are sustainably managed. The project BioRES has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon2020 Research and Innovation Programm, in which are included nine partners from seven countries: Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria and Serbia.
„Serbian Visions 2016“ was a good opportunity to promote the BIORES project and our current results, as well as to promote our mobile app „BioRES calculator“ and our manuals for wood biofuel standards and quality control, with the aim of promoting sustainable supply chains for woody bioenergy. Info days BIORES project held during Serbian Visions will continue in December in Novi Sad.
Production of equipment for combustion and energy utilization with the development of projects for the production of thermal or electric energy by combustion of solid biomass (forest and agricultural).
Their specialty are difficult or contaminated, dirty, bulky and damp fuels.
Providing turnkey solutions and timely counseling potential investors. Keywords are: energy, Renewable Energy, Environmental protection, cogeneration, ORC, attitude, Rankin cycle, turbine, industry.
Biomass – Great potential, which Serbia has yet to take advantage of.
As anounced at the two-day conference on renewable energy sources, organized by the National Biomass Association SERBIO: The use of renewable energy sources in Serbia today is higher than in previous years, but still a lot needs to be done to increase the share of sustainable energy from renewable sources in the energy balance of Serbia and to reach the level of some developed countries in this sector.
That it has the potential and interests, confirmed the fact, that the conference “SEE Energy: Connect & Supply 2016”, held on the 15th and 16th November in Novi Sad, gathered more than 200 participants from 100 companies from Serbia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, as well as representatives of national and provincial institutions, chambers of commerce, associations, investment and commercial banks and individual producers.
The event was opened by the Prime Minister of Vojvofina, Igor Mirović, who said that the Province, despite examples of good practice that exist in Vojvodina, will do a lot more work in the field of using renewable energy potential:
- The Provincial Secretariat for Energy will have a more prominent developmental function in this area next year. We are considering the possibility to subsidize, together with local governments, those technologies that will, primarily in public institutions, enable the transition to energy that is cheaper, requires less expenses and has no fossil character. On the other hand, we are ready to help potential investors, especially since our legislation provides regulated and fair conditions for investments in renewable energy. In the lower part of the energy facilities is the AP Vojvodina responsible, and we want to promote our capabilities through such conferences, especially in biomass, which in Vojvodina is still a side product of agricultural production - said Mirović.
The event was also supported by the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, whose president, Martin Knapp, pointed out, that the networking of domestic and international companies involved in the renewable energy sector is important, which is one of the goals of the conference.
The president of the National Biomass Association SERBIO Natasa Pavicevic-Bajic said that the aim of the association is to create a concept for profitable and greater use of biomass, and that the adoption of completely new skills and education of all participants in the system is very important for the development of this market.
- According to all analyzes, two-thirds of total resources are the resources of biomass, i.e. agricultural and forest biomass. Through a series of education, trainings, with the support that the state must provide for small energy projects and with the support of all levels of government, we will come to a path, from which we will all feel the benefit in Serbia. That is a path, that provides good rural and economic development – said the president of the association and emphasized that it is a good signal, that there is a great response of all stakeholders in this chain, which gives us hope that in the forthcoming period we will have a big share of sustainable energy generated from renewable sources in the energy balance of Serbia
She has pointed out, that the amendments to the Law on Agricultural Land are important for better cultivation of fast-growing forests. They provide long-term lease of land and create conditions for the development of this new bioenergy sector.
The biomass market is formed through the establishment of trade and logistics centers, which the vice president of SERBIO, Vojislav Milijić, was talking about. He presented the project of their development called BIORES and implemented under the European program "Horizon 2020".
- The project is coordinated by GIZ and besides our country, Bulgaria, Belgium, Slovenia and Finland also participate. The activities are aimed at reducing energy dependence on fossil fuels and increasing use of renewable energy sources, such as biofuels wood pellets, briquettes - said Milijić.
He explained, that the regional logistics and trade centers for biomass are centers, which are trading with a variety of products based on biomass, and that they represent an intermediary between local suppliers and customers, from individual households to heat and power.
The representative of the program of German Organization for International Cooperation (GIZ), Rainer Schellhaas, presented the program for the development of sustainable bioenergy market in Serbia, which is being implemented with partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy.
- We work closely with the organization SERBIO and it is a very fruitful cooperation. Biomass is a great opportunity for Serbia, which can help to improve air quality, reduce imports of fossil fuels and to achieve cost savings, said Schellhaas and pointed out that ,regarding this, there are many projects implemented currently in Serbia.
Besides many other speakers, such as Boris Dumnić from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, who spoke on conditions of operation and connection to DSEE cogeneration units, the sponsors of the conference introduced themselves as examples of good practice: the company Energy net was presented by Nebojsa Misic and the Austrian company Polytechnik by Viktor Radic.
Friends of the conference "SEE ENERGY - Connect and Supply 2016" were the World Bioenergy Association (WBA), the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and the Standing Conference of Municipalities of Serbia (SKGO).
We have the pleasure to invite you to the upcoming SEE ENERGY – Connect&Supply 2016 conference in Novi Sad, Serbia, which will be hosted by SERBIO - the National Association for biomass in Serbia. The aim of the Conference is to gather all participants from the renewable energy sector and the supplying industries.
Date: 15-16.11.2016.
Venue: Master centar, Novi Sad
By adopting the new legal framework, the Ministry of mining and energy of the Republic of Serbia is putting a strong effort on supporting the electricity production by using the renewable energy sources. By introducing the new favorable feed - in tariff system, the Government is creating a strong and encouraging business environment for investments in the sector of the renewable industry and all supplying industries. Due to that, the aim of the SEE ENERGY conference is to connect the respectable international and domestic companies, and international institutions, with the purpose to support the development of the renewable energy sector in the SEE region and to establish new business connection and supply chains between big companies, the SME sector and the local agricultural producers.
The main stimulus for biomass cultivation was introduction of the Law on Agricultural Land from 29th of December 2015, allowing long term lease of the agricultural land for the purpose of development energy efficient plantations and industrial production of bio mass. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia will present the law and procedure of long term lease.
For the first time the following topics will be presented on the:
The Conference will gather 200+ participants from 100 companies from Serbia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, as also the representatives of the state and provincial Government, chambers of commerce, investment and commercial banks. The themes of the conference will be the following topics:
Detailed Agenda of the Conference you can find here.
The participation fee includes entry for the two day conference, brake refreshments and the Gala dinner organized for all conference participants.
Price: EUR 150 until November 5th, EUR 100 for SERBIO members
EUR 200 after November 5th, EUR 150 for SERBIO members
where participants will acknowledge the legal framework in the SEE region, the trends and development direction in the renewable energy sector.
For any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Master centar, HajdukVeljkova 11, Novi Sad, Serbia
SESSION II | REGIONAL OVERVIEW: INNOVATIONS IN BIOMASS BUSINESS |
15.00 – 15.30 | ENERGY NET – energy service network solutions (General Sponsor) |
15.30 – 15.50 | BIOMASA doo, Slovenia: From forest to electricity and heat, Mr. David Speh |
15.50 – 16.10 | POLYTECHNIK GmbH, Nonconventional alternative biomass in industry, Mr. Viktor Radic |
16.10 – 16.30 | SERBIO – BIORES Project: Logistics centers, overview of Serbia, Mr. Vojislav Milijic |
16.30 – 16.50 | City of Sabac: Cool Heating - Innovations in DH network development , Mr. Slobodan Jerotic |
16.50 – 17.10 | Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad : Connection and utilization conditions on the cogeneration system, Mr. Boris Dumnic, PhD |
17.10 – 17.30 | Discussion and first day conclusions |
20.00 – 00.00 | GALA DINNER |
Day 2: Wednesday 16.11.2016. | |
Day 2: Wednesday 16.11.2016. | |
SESSION III | HOW TO GROW MORE AND EXPAND USE OF BIOMASS? |
09.30 – 10.20 | Concept of forest and forestry sector improvement in Serbia,Ministry of agriculture, Forestry Directorate, Mr. Sasa Stamatovic, Director |
10.20 – 10.40 |
Potential of SRC energy crops cultivation in Serbia University of Belgrade - Faculty of Forestry, Mr. Branko Stajic, PhD |
10.40 – 11.00 | Revitalization ofabandoned agricultural land - energetic utilization of the Miscanthus x giganteus biomass, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Mr. Nikola Bilandzija, PhD |
11.00 – 11.20 | Institute of lowland forestry and Environment: Poplar plantations, Mr. Sasa Orlovic, PhD |
11.20 – 11.40 | Coffee break and refreshment |
11.40 – 11.55 | Victoria Logistics: Straw |
11.55 – 12.10 | Profitability and justifiability of Paulownia growing, Planto, Mr. Zeljko Spasojevic |
12.10 – 12.25 | Wood biomass plant – experiences in Serbia, Viesmann, Mr. Bojan Grujicki |
12.25 – 12.40 | Understanding the current legislation and Law on Agricultural on long term land lease conditions for energy efficient crops cultivation: Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Agricultural Land Directorate, Mr. Zoran Knezevic, Forestry Directorate. Mr. Dušan Jović |
12.40 – 13.10 | PANEL DISCUSSION |
13.10 – 13.30 | Coffee break |
SESIJA IV |
INVESTMENT & LEGAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS: How to develop and support biomass business |
13.30 – 13.45 | EBRD, Mr. Nikolay Angelov |
13.45 – 14.00 | Agricultural development fund of Autonomous province of Vojvodina, |
14.00 – 14.15 | Guarantee fund of Autonomous province of Vojvodina, Mr. Nebojsa Ivanisevic |
14.15 – 14.30 | Conclusions |
14.30 – 15.30 | LUNCH |
END OF PROGRAM |
Friends of the conference:
SPONSORS:
The training was opened by the president of the National Biomass Association SERBIO and manager of the BioRes project in Serbia, Vojislav Milijic, B.S. in Forestry, and the BioRes trainers Boban Jovanović, B.S. in Forestry; Đorđe Marić, B.S. in Forestry, Miroslav Petrović, B.S. in Forestry and Ratko Todorović, B.S. in Forestry presented the following topics:
1) Evaluation of local potential for biomass utilization,
2) The didactic approach in working with stakeholders,
3) Development of a model of Biomass logistic and trade centers and
4) Insurance and quality confirmation of woodfuels.
The training was attended by sixty participants including: representatives of public forest enterprises, enterprises engaged in the processing and use of biomass, companies working on development of biomass logistic centers and other stakeholders, including students from the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technical Science.
Enclosed you can find the presentations from the training. The training manual can be downloaded here and the brochure on quality assurance of wood fuel can be downloaded here.
A conference on biomass was held on April 20th in Belgrade, within the fair RENEXPO® Western Balkans.
The conference pointed out the potentials for the use of biomass in Serbia, and presenters introduced the modern technologies.
The president of the National Biomass Association SERBIO, Vojislav Milijić, was one of the speakers, and in addition to the potential and the regulatory framework for the use of biomass, he also presented the BioRes project and announced the BioRes training – Sustainable regional supply chains for woody bioenergy RENEXPO® Western Balkans 2016.
The Video on this topic is available here or the complete contribution can be watched below.
National Biomass Association SERBIO
Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 6/6, 21 000, Novi Sad, Serbia
Phone: 021/382 35 33
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BioRES Project - Sustainable Regional Supply Chains for Woody Bioenergy has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research innovation programmer under grand agreement No 645994
The establishment of the National Biomass Association SERBIO was supported by: