LocationsNew phase of research on geothermal energy potential begins for future heating plant in Mišeluk
A step closer to sustainable heating in Novi Sad
June 9, 2026
Novi Sad, June 9, 2026 – The Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, the Mayor of Novi Sad, the Special Advisor to the Minister of Environmental Protection, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Head of the European Investment Bank’s Regional Hub for the Western Balkans visited the site where hydrogeological research has begun on a second exploratory well, aimed at determining the potential for the use of geothermal energy in the future Mišeluk neighborhood in Novi Sad. This represents an important step towards the construction of an exploration-exploitation well and the introduction of this sustainable, energy-efficient, and stable energy source into the city’s district heating system.
“The energy sector is an important pillar of close Slovak-Serbian relations. In the field of renewable energy, we cooperate on the development of several energy sources, including biomass from waste, solar energy, and currently very promising geothermal energy. Slovakia’s close partnership with UNDP in implementing projects in this area has long been creating productive synergies that enable efficient use of resources provided by the Slovak government”, said H.E. Michal Pavúk, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Serbia, adding that this initiative has been supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic with more than USD 200,000.
This research into geothermal potential represents a key step toward enabling the Public Utility Company “Novi Sad District Heating Plant” to integrate renewable geothermal resources into a new, modern fourth-generation district heating system in the future residential area of Mišeluk in Novi Sad.
The Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, stated that the City of Novi Sad and the PUC “Novi Sad District Heating Plant” are working responsibly and diligently on developing a modern district heating system. He explained that a complete distribution network has already been built for urban zones Mišeluk 3 and 4, that the company has conducted geological surveys and constructed the first exploration-exploitation well, and that work on the second well is currently underway with UNDP support within the “Geothermal Energy in Serbia” programme.
“The new heating plant will have a capacity of 30 megawatts, and its construction represents an important step toward harnessing geothermal potential and underground water for heat production. The Mišeluk heating plant will be the first low-temperature district heating system in this part of Europe based on renewable energy sources. It will ensure secure and stable heating. It will have positive environmental effects by reducing harmful gas emissions and will confirm Novi Sad’s commitment to being a leader in the application of innovative and sustainable energy solutions”, Mićin emphasized.
“Our goal is to create conditions for the widespread use of geothermal energy in Serbia, meaning that the initiative being implemented in Mišeluk becomes a model that other cities in Serbia can apply to transition to more sustainable and resilient energy systems, in line with national climate goals and the European Green Deal”, said Yakup Beris, UNDP Serbia Resident Representative.
In line with its National Energy and Climate Plan, Serbia has set a target to increase the share of renewable energy from 26.3% to at least 33.6% by 2030, with geothermal energy representing a significant, yet still underutilized potential estimated at around 800 MW.
This visit was organized within the framework of the “Geothermal Energy in Serbia” initiative, implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Government of Slovakia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Mining and Energy, as part of the initiatives “Public and Private Finance for Development” and “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia.”
