The low level of energy efficiency and dependence of public utility companies in the field of drinking water supply and wastewater treatment are common problems of both the cross-border region and the entire region in which we live. As a result, these topics have ranked among the major priorities of the financial assistance of the European Union granted through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
The project Exploitation of Different Energy Sources for Green Energy Production – X DEGREE with the budget totalling EUR 1,696,336.09 has resulted from the cooperation between the institutions of Serbia and Croatia aimed at promoting and improving the use of different renewable energy sources in the cross-border region.
The project aims at increasing the energy independence of public utility companies through the use of renewable energy sources, making a better use of biomass in biogas production plants, and raising public awareness of the energy potential from renewable energy sources in cross-border regions and is, as such, co-financed within the framework of Interreg IPA Cross-Border Programme Croatia-Serbia 2014-2020.
The following project partners have been identified: Novi Sad University, Public Utility Company Vodokanal Sombor, European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina, Vinkovci Water Supply and Sewerage Ltd. and Agricultural Institute Osijek. During the project life cycle, a biogas power plant will be built in Sombor and a solar power plant will be built in Vinkovci; the biomass testing laboratory at the Agricultural Institute in Osijek will be expanded and a laboratory for quality testing and biogas production formula development will be set up at the University in Novi Sad.
Following the completion of the project and in line with an analytical study to be prepared, PUC Vodokanal Sombor and Vinkovci Water Supply and Sewerage Ltd. will become successful role models for other companies operating in the same field, facilitating the development and implementation of similar innovative projects in the future. The setting up of a mobile laboratory for testing energy properties and potentials of raw material used to produce biogas will ensure optimum production conditions.