As the oil drilling debate continues, an encouraging trend in renewable energy in Croatia.
At the beginning of August, in Croatia there were 1,207 power plants which use renewable energy sources, while the total capacity of these plants was 430.88 MW, reported on Thursday the Croatian Energy Association. The Association conducted its research based on data released by the Croatian Energy Market Operator, reports Novi List on August 14, 2015.
Compared to the last report of the Croatian Energy Association published at the end of January of this year, it is an increase of 137 power plants and 18.28 MW. The energy system now has 130 new solar power plants, one hydroelectric plant, three plants which use biomass and three biogas power plants.
As far as installed capacity is concerned, the top spot belongs to 16 wind power plants with a total of 339.25 MW, while the second place is reserved for 1,115 solar power plants with a total of 40.39 MW. Compared to the last report, the third place, which was firmly held by cogeneration plants, has now been taken over by biogas power plants with a total installed capacity of 15.93 MW.
By installed capacity, the biggest single plant which uses renewable energy sources is the "Wind Farm Velika Glava, Bubrig i Crni Vrh", with the installed capacity of 43 MW. It is projected that soon another 138 plants with total power of 502.61 MW will start to operate.
The Croatian Energy Association warned that National Action Plan for Renewable Energy 2020 sends a very clear message to investors that the incentives for the construction of plants using renewable energy sources are almost spent. According to the document, quotas for wind power and solar power have been completely used up, and there is just a small number of biogas plants, geothermal plants and biomass power plants which can be built using government incentives.
The Association believes that this should not discourage investors from continuing to develop renewable energy in the context of technical or market constraints. The produced energy can be used for their own use or for sale at the average market prices. The Association expects that soon a new law on renewable energy sources and efficient cogeneration will be passed, which should open a way for further development of this sector in Croatia.
