Illustration (Photo: Hans Braxmeier/Pixabay)
The first solar power plant in a rural area in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which 226 individuals and organizations invested through a crowdfunding campaign, was installed on the roof of the Pecka Visitor Center, a village near Mrkonjić Grad.
– We did one amazing thing! After a two-year long process, a solar power plant was set up by the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the whole world. We recognized and communicated the energy we had and the desire to build a solar power plant and become independent, to show that alternative energy sources are available to us and that with a little will and effort we can enable the Visitor Center to be self-sustainable and independent, and that it is environmentally friendly and not causing any damage to anyone – said Boro Marić from the Center for Visitors.
The initiative “Solar Pecka” was initiated by the Center for Visitors of Pecka from Mrkonjić Grad and the Center for the Environment from Banja Luka in May 2019. As part of this initiative, an online crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds needed to install a system of solar panels and collectors on the roof of the Pecka Visitor Center, located in the village of the same name near Mrkonjić Grad. The “Solar Pecka” campaign lasted 26 days and is the first step of a joint initiative.
– We rejoiced together in every success, every paper we received, every step we took. We do not know what else awaits us, but we were not afraid of failure and we will not be afraid of success, because this is just one of the great things we will do together with various people who have the same opinions as we do – said Marić, reports banjaluka24h.com.
Nestor Ruiz, coordinator of the Solar Pecka initiative at the Center for the Environment, points out that Solar Pecka is a pioneering project that shows that sustainable civic energy projects are possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina despite many current financial, technical and legislative challenges.
– Bosnia and Herzegovina has enough sun, and we have proven that its citizens have the will. The first step has been made, it is time to gather in larger numbers and continue to work on demanding legislative changes so that civil energy is available to everyone, both in Pecka and throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Ruiz.
Jelena Ivanić, coordinator of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign at the Center for the Environment, emphasizes that Solar Power Plant Pecka is an excellent example of a solution for harmful energy sources such as small hydropower plants, which the Center is fighting against.
– Hydropower plants cause enormous damage to our nature, economy and local communities that are directly connected to these rivers. For years, we have been advocating for improved energy efficiency and greater use of other renewable energy sources that are less harmful, such as wind and solar energy sources. The power plant in Pecka is an excellent and concrete example of the environmentally friendly solutions – said Ivanić.
