Alternative Energy in Serbia? - “Yes, but Not in My Backyard!”

This project aims to examine the public’s views in Serbia regarding their support for alternative energy sources in general. Also, the goal of the project is to investigate whether in Serbia the NIMBY aspect makes a difference in these attitudes, that is, whether the public in Serbia views alternative energy differently if the construction of new capacities is planned in their immediate surroundings.

The research project is being conducted in partnership with Marina Budić

Research Findings

Our findings indicate a strong preference among the Serbian public for renewable energy sources, notably solar and wind. Interestingly, these preferences do not correlate significantly with nationalist views, a pattern that sets Serbia apart from trends observed in Western Europe. Despite Serbia’s geopolitical ties with Russia, these factors appear to have minimal impact on the public’s energy preferences, which are more influenced by local and environmental considerations than international politics.

Public opinion on which energy sources Serbia should rely on

This figure shows which energy sources Serbia should rely on according to Serbian public.

Policy Implications

The data suggests a strategic opportunity for policymakers to prioritize renewable energy development, moving away from nuclear energy and minimizing further coal and small hydropower (SHP) projects. This approach aligns with the broad public consensus and supports Serbia’s potential EU accession, facilitating a shift in both energy and foreign policy landscapes.

Publications

Our research findings have been detailed in a reaserch paper and policy paper shedding light on the public opinion and policy implications in Serbia’s energy sector.

TRG

Na šta mislimo kada kažemo... Energija u Srbiji

Marko Galjak, and Marina Budić

2023
Energy Policy

Public perceptions of fossil and alternative energy in Serbia: Between NIMBYism and nationalism

Marko Galjak, and Marina Budić

Energy Policy Jul 2024

Abs DOI

Understanding public perceptions of energy sources is essential for successful policy formulation. Our study explores the Serbian public’s attitudes toward different types of energy, taking into account NIMBY (“Not In My Back Yard") sentiments, nationalist orientation, and pro-Russian attitudes. A correlational cross-sectional design utilized an online survey disseminated via social media platforms. The study examined public preferences for various energy types and their correlations with nationalist and pro-Russian tendencies. Poststratification weighting was applied to address sample representativeness. Our research revealed the public’s preference for renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. Surprisingly, nationalist views did not significantly align with fossil fuel preferences, differentiating Serbia from Western European trends. Geopolitical considerations, such as Serbia’s relationship with Russia, did not strongly influence public opinion. These findings underscore the importance of considering public preferences in shaping Serbia’s energy policy, emphasizing the need for investment in renewables. Based on the results we offer concrete policy recommendations. This study offers a methodological approach adaptable to other countries undergoing similar energy transition.

The Open Society Foundation, Serbia, supported this research project as part of the “Serbia and Global Challenges: Towards Fairer and More Democratic Public Policies 2” program.