- Green Energy to Support Liveability: A Case Study of Energy Shift to the Small Hydro-Systems in Serbia    1427 kb by    Brkovic, Matija & Sretovic, Visnja & Cvetinovic, Marija | matija0brkovic@gmail.com    Short Outline In Serbia, energy generation and use is taking a major toll on the environment. This paper presents a planned system of small scale hydroelectric plants on the river Ibar, and how and at which level it will contribute towards a more livable environment. Abstract In Serbia today, energy generation and use is taking a major toll on the natural and built environment. Serbia relies on energy production mainly obtained from coal (largely extracted by surface mining) (62%) and hydropower (34%), while oil and natural gas together participate only with 4%. Although using coal as a primary energy source is expected to continue, recently adopted national development documents on energy and spatial development (Spatial Development Plan of Serbia 2024, and Energy Development Strategy) have placed the renewable resources and production of Green Energy among the national priorities for the next twenty years. Thus, biomass, wind and solar power plants, as well as building a number of additional hydroelectric dams are expected to take substantial share in energy production. Unlike other countries in the region (i.e. Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia etc.), fifteen years ago Serbia placed moratorium on using nuclear power, which is still in effect. This paper will present a case study of developing a system of small scale hydroelectric power plants on the river Ibar in Central Serbia. The Ibar region is one of the most densely populated parts of the country and is home to 40km long Ibar gorge, Valley of history with ruins of medieval city of Maglič and several monasteries, some of witch are UNESCO world heritage, Valley of the lilacs, and Valley of the spas with a number of spas which are one of the biggest Serbian tourist attractions. In considering large versus small hydro systems, the decision has been made to give priority to the small system option. The decision to go after the small scale option was based on a multi-factorial assessment, including factors of heritage preservation, environmental impacts, urban development, etc. Serbia has extensive experience with the large hydro systems, and there is general awareness of the negative effects these systems generate on their immediate surroundings. Developing a series of small hydroelectric power plants will generate much less effect on the surroundings by producing minimal disturbance on natural environment, as compared to the conventional large hydro-based systems. In the same time, it will provide its share toward development of low carbon urban areas. This project is part of the national plan on Green Energy in the country, and is a result of international cooperation between Serbia and Italy on development and production of Green Energy in Serbia. The paper will present the project itself, and will demonstrate how and at which level it will contribute toward building a more livable environment in Serbia. Keywords Green Energy, Environment, Livability, Serbia Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2011: LIVEABLE CITIES: URBANISING WORLD, Meeting the Challenge   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper