Between September 4 and December 31, 2023, the Renewable Energy and Efficient Cogeneration Operator (OIEiEK Operator) conducted a survey to assess the interest of citizens in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in potential investments in the construction of solar power plants – prosumers. A total of 494 respondents participated in the survey by completing an online questionnaire on the OIEiEK Operator’s website. The report on the research results is available on the Operator’s website (www.oieiek.ba).
This survey aimed to collect data on the interest in investments in the construction of solar power plants and gather opinions on one-time financial support for building solar power plants – prosumers, which is a new responsibility of the OIEiEK Operator under the new Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration.
The results of the survey show that the interest of citizens in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in constructing solar power plants – prosumers is high, with 97.3% of respondents expressing interest in building such energy facilities. According to the respondents, the greatest interest in constructing these facilities was expressed in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (19.8%), followed by Sarajevo Canton (19.6%), and Zenica-Doboj Canton (16.1%).
With the new Law on Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration granting the OIEiEK Operator the authority to implement one-time co-financing for the construction of prosumer facilities in the household category, citizens’ opinions on this type of co-financing were of great importance to the Operator.
The survey found that 99% of respondents would be motivated to build a solar power plant – prosumer if they were provided with one-time financial support in the form of a subsidy covering a percentage of the investment value. According to respondents, a subsidy covering an average of 50% of the total investment value would suffice to encourage them to undertake such projects.
The procedure for one-time co-financing of the construction of prosumer facilities in the household category will be regulated by a program to be adopted by the OIEiEK Operator, with prior approval from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This program will define the allocation of one-time financial support, the social aspects of co-financing, the level of support, criteria for eligibility, and provisions for fair regional participation. The results of this survey will be used, among other things, to create a more equitable percentage of one-time co-financing.
Respondents identified the lack of financial resources, unclear and complicated permitting procedures, and lengthy processing times by relevant institutions as the main barriers to investing in the construction of solar power plants – prosumers. Additionally, they highlighted a lack of information about the procedures and the benefits of investing in such energy facilities.
Recognizing its responsibility in the renewable energy market, the OIEiEK Operator has included activities in its 2024 Work Plan to conduct educational workshops, organize meetings with representatives of cantonal ministries, local communities, and the media, and launch a public information campaign about the benefits of investing in the construction of solar power plants – prosumers.
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with the OIEiEK Operator, aims to encourage the construction of as many solar power plants – prosumers as possible, particularly in the household category, to reduce citizens’ energy dependence. The public information campaign will focus particularly on the cantons where the survey results indicate the lowest interest in investments in such energy facilities.
To simplify the permitting procedures for investing in solar power plants, the OIEiEK Operator has already initiated plans for joint meetings with representatives of cantonal ministries and other relevant institutions to discuss adapting construction-related regulations. The Operator will organize these meetings to ensure uniform procedures and simplified permit processes across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This includes aligning the procedures arising from cantonal construction laws for building solar power plants on residential properties.