Cost of Green Energy Still Too High for Citizens of Podgorica

Podgorica (Photo: HINA/MINA)

Citizens of Podgorica feel that renewable energy is not being harnessed enough in Montenegro, above all because of the high cost of these forms of energy, the Montenegrin Green Home NGO has said.

"Everyone agrees that the natural environment in Montenegro is well suited for using green energy, especially solar energy, but that it is not being used enough. Our citizens say the biggest obstacle is economic," Green Home, whose member talked to citizens of Podgorica on the importance of renewable energy sources, said on Sept. 14.

"Although all calculations show that by using solar systems or the increasingly popular heat pumps, energy will be saved in addition to the comfort that is achieved in rooms that are heated and cooled in this way, the amount of money that is required is still too high," the organization said in a statement.

Citizens stressed the importance of quality information in the area, and only some of them are aware of support programs and the criteria that they need to meet to apply for state support. "The fact that the younger part of the population hasn't shown much interest in this kind of information is disconcerting and hence we believe that more attention needs to be paid to educating youth in the coming period," the statement said.