Six local communities in BiH invest in a cleaner energy future

Six local communities in BiH invest in a cleaner energy future

New renewable energy, energy efficiency and community-led initiatives launched through the EU4CAET project

Six local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina today signed grant agreements under the EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition (EU4CAET) project, launching initiatives that will support the country's transition towards a more sustainable, secure and citizen-centred energy system.

The projects in Kakanj, Zenica, Modriča, Sokolac, Srbac and Trebinje demonstrate how local communities can contribute to the energy transition through renewable energy production, energy efficiency measures and innovative approaches to community participation.

"Through investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and community-led solutions, municipalities across Bosnia and Herzegovina are delivering tangible benefits for citizens while contributing to a more sustainable and resilient energy future. The EU and its Member States remain committed to supporting this transformation and the local partnerships that make it possible," said Solomon Ioannou, Programme Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Three of the supported initiatives focus on the establishment of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), a model promoted under European energy policy that enables local authorities, public institutions, businesses and citizens to jointly produce, consume and share renewable energy.

"Each of these six projects is proof that local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina can lead the energy transition. I am particularly pleased that among them we have the first renewable energy communities in the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, models that other local communities can and should follow," said Mareike Hahr, EU4CAET Project Manager.

Kakanj was recently granted the first-ever REC status in BiH by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry. A municipality whose identity was shaped for decades by coal mining is now building a 103 kW solar plant on the roof of the municipal building, which will generate around 111,678 kWh of clean electricity per year and reduce CO₂ emissions by 83.2 tonnes annually.

"A renewable energy community is not just an energy project, it is a development model that unites public institutions, local businesses and citizens around a common goal," said Mirnes Bajtarević, Mayor of Kakanj Municipality.

In Modriča, the first registered REC in Republika Srpska is being established through a 157.67 kW solar plant on the Gradski bazen sports complex. The system will generate around 158,100 kWh annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 136.56 tonnes, while lowering electricity consumption by approximately 25 percent.

"It is particularly important to me that the project also contributes to the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities. The construction of the photovoltaic plant confirms that Modriča is moving towards renewable energy, and that this is not just an ambition, but part of our municipality's development strategy," said Jovica Radulović, Mayor of Modriča Municipality.

In Sokolac, a REC is being established through a 71.4 kWp solar installation on the local sports hall, covering around 90 percent of its annual energy needs and reducing emissions by 58.45 tonnes per year, with savings reinvested in public and social services.

The Municipality of Srbac is introducing a smart adaptive LED public lighting system, improving safety across urban and suburban areas. The project will benefit around 8,200 residents, reduce electricity consumption by 323,330 kWh annually and cut CO₂ emissions by 240.75 tonnes, with savings reinvested locally.

In Zenica, the Sports Arena is being upgraded with a 300-kilowatt heat pump system, significantly improving energy efficiency, lowering operating costs and reducing emissions at one of the region's most frequently used sports facilities.

In Trebinje, the sports hall is replacing an outdated coal-fired boiler with a high-efficiency pellet boiler, improving air quality and reducing heating costs for daily users, including children and sports clubs.

Renewable energy communities and other community-led initiatives will significantly improve the quality of life for citizens across Bosnia and Herzegovina, with local communities becoming driving forces of the energy transition and shaping a better energy future for the whole society.

EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition (EU4CAET) project is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.

More information: www.eu4caet.ba