Dubravka Živković

Heating and cooling account for nearly half of Europe’s final energy consumption, with approximately 75% still relying on fossil fuels. Decarbonisation of this sector is therefore critical for the continent’s climate neutrality. This paper analyses the obstacles and possible pathways to broader implementation of shallow geothermal energy (SGE) utilisation in Danube region and in Serbia. The research was conducted for the purpose of producing a document titled Transnational Action Plan (TAP), which was developed within the framework of the Interreg Danube GeoHeCo project. Two major types of shallow geothermal energy exploitation are examined: (i) closed-loop and open-loop ground source heat pump systems exploiting shallow geological layers up to 400 m depth, and (ii) wastewater heat recovery systems using high-temperature water source heat pumps without additional drilling. Based on national geological, regulatory, and market data, the paper identifies structural barriers and proposes targeted measures for accelerating the deployment of this source of energy. All proposed measures are divided into 5 priorities: Resources and regulations; Technology and design; Education and training; Financing and Awareness raising.

Given that cities are major consumers of energy and significant sources of carbon dioxide emissions, this research aims to explore pathways for their decarbonization. At the same time, recognizing that cities are not isolated energy islands but integral parts of national energy systems, the study investigates how the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia up to 2040 with Projections up to 2050 can be effectively scaled and adapted to the local context, using the city of Kragujevac as a case study. Three development scenarios were analyzed: Scenario 1: implementation of National Development Strategy measures that are feasible at the local level, Scenario 2: enhancement of the Strategy by incorporating local potentials not currently addressed in the national framework, and Scenario 3: further development of the district heating system to enable greater integration of RES. The research employs a multi-criteria decision analysis approach, involving diverse stakeholders, including citizens, academia, NGO, and local policymakers. Through surveys, priority criteria for evaluating the proposed measures were identified, enabling a comparative analysis of the scenarios. The results provide valuable insights into local preferences and capacities for energy transition and offer recommendations for improving strategic alignment between national and local energy planning.

This paper proposes a methodology for calculating CO2 emissions per product. The methodology developed here is based on a detailed energy review of a diary plant to determine energy raw material flows and apply a GHG protocol for calculating carbon footprint. The emission coefficients are adopted from the current literature and the relevant databases. The methodology was tested on a case study: a diary plant.

As cities consume nearly 65% of the total final energy produced globally, they represent key drivers of energy transitions. Accordingly, this paper analyses the impact of the draft of Energy Sector Development of Republic of Serbia up to 2040 with projections up to 2050, on the creation of local policies and the achievement of climate neutrality in cities. The methodology, based on scaling the national strategy to the city level, was applied to the case study of the city of Kragujevac. This research utilized multi-criteria decision making to evaluate and rank the measures proposed by the Strategy, alongside an analysis of the opinions of key stakeholders from relevant fields, including local authorities, experts, representatives of civil society, the private sector, and citizens. The research findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of national documents on shaping local policies, identifying key factors for the successful implementation of energy transitions. The presented conclusions provide guidelines for decision-making that align with local needs and priorities.

The integration of renewable energy sources in the final energy mix has become a narrative due to current environmental problems, such as global warming, air pollution, dependence on fossil fuels, and others. It is also known that the industry had a significant impact on the emergence, development, and maintenance of these problems. Accordingly, a large number of researchers have contributed to the field of application of renewable energy sources in industry. The diversity of renewable energy sources that can be used in industry is conditioned by the operating temperature, which in most cases reaches values ​​of 1000 °C. One of the renewable energy sources that can achieve these operating temperatures is biomass. This paper provides an overview of the current technologies of biomass application in the cement industry, considers the possibilities of their application in the Republic of Serbia, and analyses the benefits that are achieved by them.

The food and beverage industry is a significant global industry in terms of energy consumption. It participates with about 30% in the total energy consumption of the industrial sector. Most of that energy is spent on the conversion into thermal energy and for cooling processes. According to the current findings, 30% of the heat flow in the food industry is lost by the end of a production process. The waste heat obtained hereby has relatively low temperatures. However, it is possible to raise such temperatures to a useful degree, i.e. the one that meets the requirements of a production process, by locating the sources of waste heat with adequate energy potentials and by employing a heat pump. Only systematic approaches and detailed analyses of the plants’ features can result in successful mapping of the sources of waste heat, precise evaluations of their energy potentials, and adequate selection of the optimal power of a heat pump needed for such purposes. This paper proposes a methodology for mapping the sources of waste heat in the food industry and determining the possibility of implementing a compressor mechanical heat pump. The methodology developed here was tested on a dairy that processes 100 tons of milk per day on seven production lines. Six sources of waste heat were identified. Only two are suitable for the implementation of a heat pump. Techno-economic analysis indicates that the total investment into the systems for collecting and accumulating waste heat and the purchase of heat pumps should pay off in about 17 months. The total reduction of CO 2 emission is estimated at 680 tons per year.

The intensive growth of the world's population in the 20th and 21st centuries and the expansion of cities indicate the importance they now have on socio-economic development. Therefore, cities become a segment of society whose sustainability is necessary to achieve the wider sustainability of the planet. In these efforts, special emphasis is placed on smart cities (those that actively embrace new technologies) as a potential solution to urban sustainability. Due to several reasons, the lack of knowledge of how local governments should apply the idea of a smart city, as well as the lack of evaluation of the sustainability results achieved by smart cities, it is still not clear whether smart city practices lead to environmental, economic and social sustainability. This paper aims to shed light on the question of whether cities can become smart while maintaining their unsustainability in the process. Through a systematic review of the literature on smart and sustainable cities, the current situation in the developed world was analysed and opportunities, threats, advantages and weaknesses were identified in terms of the implementation of the concept of sustainable development through smart cities.

This paper focuses on the implementation of air-water heat pumps used to provide heating for households instead of electric boilers. The paper proposes a methodology for determining the quantity of energy used for heating based on the data collected from electricity bills. In addition, the simulations conducted in a selected software can provide insight into the amount of energy loss based on the constructional characteristics of an object. The proposed methodology was tested through a case study. The results indicate that the selected household can save about 60% of electricity currently consumed. Financially speaking, it is reasonable to expect that the electricity costs can be reduced by three times and that the payback period of the investment would be about four years for this household.

Background: The energy markets of Southeastern Europe largely depend on fossil fuels. Energy prices are lower in this region than in the rest of Europe, while the energy transition is relatively delayed. This paper aims at summarizing the obstacles to the civic energy transition in Southeastern Europe and the future prospects for its success. Results: In Southeastern Europe, there are great concerns about the uncertainty of the energy transition process and its outcomes. There is a lot of apprehensions that the transition could drift away from the citizens and end up in the hands of large-scale solar and wind farms entirely. In other words, citizens may be completely excluded from participating in the energy transition. Renewable energy cooperatives can serve as a crucial vehicle for organizing and engaging citizens in the energy transition. They can also be used as a lever of civic influence. This influence is crucial for ensuring a fair transition. The research methodology on cooperative development includes a literature review and a survey conducted with 240 participants. The participants were local government officials, members of NGOs, businesses, scholars, and citizens. The paper summarizes the answers to the questions which the authors considered essential for deepening our understanding of citizens’ attitudes on a (just) energy transition. The results show that the public awareness about the energy transition has increased. In addition, participants have demonstrated a willingness to take action, both as individuals and through cooperative efforts. However, they have also shown a great level of mistrust in the government, mainly due to perceived corruption and lack of transparency. Generally speaking, they have doubts that the energy transition can be completed in a fair and timely manner within their national context. Conclusions: This paper provides insight into the current state of affairs and the prospects for the energy transition based on the attitudes of the citizens in Southeastern Europe. The paper argues that energy cooperatives should be employed as a training ground for the citizens, since, through joint actions, their trust in each other can be regained, rehearsed, and restored.