Serbia currently produces about 15 percent of energy from renewable sources, but this output could be much higher, as its potential is about 4.4 million tons of oil equivalent, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Verica Kalanovic said Friday.

She told a conference on renewable energy sources in Belgrade that following the EC recommendation for candidate status for EU membership, Serbia has greater opportunities to use resources from European funds for renewable energy sources.

Kalanovic pointed out that in recent months, a growing number of domestic and foreign investors showed interest in investing in renewable energy sources in Serbia.

She said that investors are interested in building a large-scale solar power station in Vranje, southern Serbia, worth about 300 million euros, as well as facilities in Kursumlija, southern Serbia, to the value of five million euros and in Hrtkovci, northern Serbia, to the value of 15 million euros.

She said that there is great potential for using biomass, solar and hydro power and that the state should create suitable environment for investors.