LocationsCleaner energy solutions advance the green transition in East Sarajevo
September 2, 2026
A new heating plant at Pale Secondary School is now operational, replacing the school’s previous coal- and wood-based heating system with a modern, more efficient system using wood pellets. The new system will provide reliable heating for 3,500 square metres of school space while helping reduce local air pollution.
Worth more than BAM 525,000, the investment was jointly financed by the City of East Sarajevo and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with BAM 279,559 provided by the City and BAM 245,441 by UNDP.
Equipped with two modern boilers with a combined capacity of 600 kW, the new heating plant replaces the previous facility, which had long been a source of local air pollution. Its opening marks another step in broader efforts to improve the energy performance of public buildings and accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy solutions across East Sarajevo.
These efforts extend beyond cleaner heating. UNDP has also supported the expansion of the photovoltaic system at the East Sarajevo City Administration building, originally installed in 2024 with support from the European Union. The additional solar capacity has doubled the system from 50 kW to 100 kW, increasing the share of electricity generated from renewable sources and helping reduce the building’s energy costs.
Before and after: Pale Secondary School’s former coal- and wood-based heating facility has been replaced with a modern heating system using wood pellets.
Renewable energy investments are also benefiting schools and early childhood education facilities. A 40 kW solar power system installed at Petar Petrović Njegoš Primary School in East Ilidža enables the school to generate part of its own electricity, with resulting savings available to be redirected towards teaching materials and improved conditions for students.
At Bubamara Kindergarten in Pale, a 24.5 kW solar power system is similarly helping reduce energy costs and the institution’s environmental footprint.
Together, these interventions demonstrate how local climate action can translate into practical benefits for communities: cleaner heating, lower energy costs, greater use of renewable energy and more sustainable public infrastructure.
By combining investments in energy efficiency, cleaner heating and renewable energy, UNDP and the City of East Sarajevo are helping public institutions reduce their reliance on fossil fuels while contributing to cleaner air and a more sustainable and resilient urban future.
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