Availability as a dimension of energy security in the Republic of Serbia

There is a range of modern approaches and models in literature for the evaluation and determination of energy security, which are based on different parameters and indicators. For most of them, a common characteristic is emphasizing the availability of energy, as an important dimension for ensuring energy security. In this paper, concise overview of Serbian energy sectors is given and appropriate energy indicators are defined and determined. Selected indicators provide insight into the main components that characterize availability - security of supply, self-sufficiency, diversification of energy sources, level of renewable energy use and technological maturity. Besides calculation of energy indicators, the aim is to investigate and establish the relationships among components of availability of energy in Serbia, and to provide some recommendations for the policy makers to develop efficacious measures for enhancing energy security. Therefore Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology is applied to analyze collected data, to reveal cause - effect relationships, and to prioritize components of availability mutually. Conclusion is that the main activities in Serbian energy sector should be directed to improvement of energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy sources and diversification of energy sources and energy imports directions.