HBIS enters Serbia's energy market as an active buyer

The company, together with tire manufacturer Linglong, became one of the first major industrial consumers in the country to apply for this status.

HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel and Linglong International Europe have submitted official applications to Serbia’s transmission system operator, Elektromreža Srbije (EMS), to connect their solar power plants to the transmission network. The applications have been confirmed as complete.

The development became possible following amendments introduced by the Serbian government to the decree regulating electricity delivery and supply conditions. The “active buyer” status, which was established through amendments to the Energy Law in November 2024, became fully operational after the related decree was revised.

Under the new framework, companies can not only generate electricity but also consume, store, and sell the energy they produce. They may also participate in the electricity market directly or through aggregation and sell electricity via power purchase agreements (PPAs).

HBIS has secured grid connection approval for a 63 MW photovoltaic plant at its facility in Smederevo, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2028. Linglong plans to build a 39.9 MW solar power plant at its manufacturing site in Zrenjanin, with commissioning expected in 2027.

With a combined capacity exceeding 103 MW, the two projects are significantly larger than Serbia’s current largest operational solar park, which has a capacity of 26 MW.

According to EMS data, the applications submitted by HBIS and Linglong are among the 30 completed grid-connection projects out of a total of 80 applications received. Both companies plan to connect their solar facilities to the internal infrastructure of their existing sites in Zrenjanin and Smederevo.

The new regulations also introduce a number of technical and financial requirements for active buyers. Power plants must have a minimum capacity of 150 kW and may not exceed their approved grid connection capacity. In addition, developers are required to provide a bank guarantee of €12,500 per MW of grid connection capacity.

The designated development periods for active buyers are March 1–June 30 and September 1–December 31. Companies will also be eligible to participate in flexibility services and energy efficiency programs.