As Novac writes on the 5th of September, 2020, at PPK Karlovac, one of the leading Croatian food companies, a solar power plant covering an area of ​​7,500 square metres and an output of 1.2 MW was put into operation. A total of 3,939 photovoltaic modules, each with a power of 305 W, produce electricity for their own consumption, which PPK Karlovac has implemented in its production processes.

The annual production of the solar power plant is expected to be 1.2 GWh, while the consumption of electricity from conventional sources stands at 10.7 GWh annually. PPK Karlovac's investment is worth 7.2 million kuna, and the energy savings will amount to 10.89 percent, or 830 thousand kuna per year, while the payback period is estimated at 5.2 years. The project also aims to contribute to the preservation of the environment, which will be reflected in the reduction of CO2 emissions by 274 tonnes per year.

''We include high environmental standards and principles of sustainable development in the basic determinants of our business. In addition to the progress in the application of environmental protection standards, the financial effects of the project are of course important, and we're very pleased that during the trial period we even managed to exceed the expected results, achieving production of 720 MWh of electricity. We're especially pleased that this project is entirely a Croatian domestic product. The designer and contractor of our solar power plant was the Croatian company Enerco Solar, and all of the construction equipment, including the panels of the Croatian manufacturer SOLVIS, come from domestic production,'' said Igor Miljak, President of the PPK Karlovac meat industry.

The total value of PPK Karlovac's investment stands at 7.2 million kuna, with 50 percent of it having been co-financed by grants from the Ministry of Agriculture.

''The independent creation of resources for production while reducing the negative effects on the environment are the direction in which the European Union sees and plans the means and goals in the coming period. Investments in renewable energy sources are a step towards sustainable development, which means saving money, resources and caring for the environment, it also means increasing efficiency, rationalising costs and a positive impact on the state of resources. The use of renewable energy sources will continue to be an important intervention in the future National Strategic Plan and will enable successful producers and processors to reduce operating costs. Large companies and leaders in individual industries must be the drivers of development and take responsibility and an initiative in promoting green goals and domestic solutions. PPK Karlovac is among them and I'd like to congratulate them on making this step forward,'' said the Minister of Agriculture Marija Vuckovic.

This solar power plant was realised in cooperation with the company HEP ESCO, a member of the HEP Group, as the first project from the HEP EE solar plus Programme, which refers to investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources for industrial facilities.

''Croatia's energy picture is changing rapidly. Energy production at the point of consumption has multiple benefits both for the user of that energy and for the environment and for Croatia as a whole. The idea is that integrated solar power plants produce the optimal amount of energy for the needs of the facility and thus reduce energy costs in the long run. HEP, like all large energy companies, has recognised the trends and needs of the market and in its offer, and in addition to the supply of energy, it is including more and more complex and modern energy services. Among them is the construction of solar power plants on a ''turnkey'' basis, which is realised according to the ESCO model. Starting from the role of the carrier of Croatia's energy transition to a low-carbon society, HEP wants to establish a strong partnership with the industrial sector on projects such as PPK Karlovac's solar power plant,'' said HEP ESCO CEO Zeljko Jelacic.

PPK Karlovac meat industry is part of the larger Pivac Group, which continuously invests in projects aimed at preserving the environment and reducing the negative impact on it. After the completion of the investment in Karlovac, the company plans to build a solar power plant with a capacity of 2 MW in the new Braca Pivac facility, which is currently being built in the Ravca Economic Zone close to Vrgorac. Other investments in the form of solar power plants are also planned in Cakovec and Karlovac.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik/PD VL native tim writes on the 31st of July, 2020, by building such power plants, HEP can ensure that in sunny areas, the energy drawn from them can supply a large number of consumers. This is especially important, for example, on Croatia's many islands, where solar power plants can become an extremely important factor.

Given that they are efficient and don't have harmful products in the production of electricity, they have an important position in the European Green Plan, which primarily implies a significant reduction in harmful amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere.

The goal of the Green Plan adopted by the European Commission is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This poses great challenges, but also opportunities for all member states of the European Union.

Exactly how is Croatia currently positioned in all of this?

Croatia is in sixth place, ie at the very top of the list of EU countries, according to the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption. According to Eurostat's data, for 2018, the share of RES in total gross electricity consumption in Croatia was 48 percent. In order for Croatia to meet its goal set in the Energy Development Strategy until 2030, with a view to 2050, it is necessary to build more than 1000 MW of solar power plants in the next ten years.

HEP plans to increase production from renewable energy sources by 50 percent by 2030. This goal is planned to be achieved by revitalisation, ie increasing the power and production of existing hydropower plants, the construction of new hydropower plants and significant investments in wind farms, solar power plants and other renewable sources. HEP has its Kaštelir solar power plant in operation in Istria, and this year alone, seven more will be built, and in cooperation with cities and municipalities, there will be as many as eleven new solar power plants across Croatia.

The solar power plant on the island of Vis, with a connection power of 3.5 MW, located on the Griževa glavica hill just southwest of the town of Vis, is already in trial operation. The expected annual production is about 5 million kWh of electricity, which can meet the needs of about 1,600 households. Thanks to the construction of this facility, the island of Vis received its own source of renewable energy and greater security of its own electricity supply. HEP is implementing this project in cooperation with the well known Croatian company, Končar, whose products are installed in the power plant. The value of the investment stands at 31.3 million. kuna In the next phase, a 1MW battery tank with a capacity of 1.44 MWh will be installed next to the power plant, which will be used to provide electricity balancing services and to preserve the stability of the network on the island.

In the area of ​​the municipality of Žminj in Istria, the Marići plant, worth 9 million kuna, is about to be put into operation. It will produce about 1.2 million kWh of electricity annually, and should be commissioned during August this year.

The Kaštelir 2 solar power plant is being built at the Sabadin location in the area of ​​the Kaštelir-Labinci municipality in Istria, and will produce 2.9 million kWh. The value of the investment is 15 million kuna. The project represents an extension of the existing SE Kaštelir, which has been in operation since back in December 2018 and in 2019, it produced 1.5 million kWh.

The Vrlika Jug solar power plant, worth 11 million kuna, represents the realisation of the first phase of the planned construction in the southern part of the Kosora Work Zone, in the area of ​​the town of Vrlika. The connected power of the power plant will be 2.1 MW, and the expected annual production will be around 2.9 million kWh. It should start operating by the end of 2020.

The Obrovac solar power plant, worth 42.6 million kuna, is being built on the site of a former alumina factory. The expected annual electricity production of about 8.9 million kWh will be able to meet the needs of 2,800 households.

In the second half of 2020, the Stankovci solar power plant will be built. The expected annual production of 4.6 million kWh of electricity will be enough to supply 1,500 households. The value of the investment is 26.3 million kuna.

At the end of June, works were opened on the construction of the largest solar power plant in Croatia, on the island of Cres. The Cres solar power plant will contribute to strengthening the security of electricity supply and increasing the degree of energy self-sufficiency of the islands of Cres and Lošinj, especially in periods of increased consumption during the tourist seasons. The SE Cres project, worth 41 million kuna, was developed by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County until the location permit was obtained, when the project was taken over by HEP, which entrusted the construction to a consortium of PVI Solar, PVI GmbH, Intecco and Deling.

The 6.5 MW power plant will produce about 8.5 million kWh of electricity per year, which corresponds to the consumption of about 2,500 households. It covers an area of ​​17 hectares and is divided into 13 segments of individual power with a total of 20,330 solar panels that will be placed so as to allow for the unimpeded passage of small animals inside the solar power plant fence, as well as grazing sheep within the fenced area. Production will begin by the end of this year.

HEP cooperated with Croatian production forces on the construction of all of these power plants, and all the installed panels were from the successful Varaždin-based company Solvis.

HEP is considering the construction of two more solar power plants on the island of Cres, SE Cres 2 of 4.14 MW and SE Ustrine near Osor, with a capacity of 9.99 MW, which it is developing on the basis of a cooperation agreement with Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and Mali Lošinj.

As part of the EU INSULAE programme, HEP plans to build a 1 MW solar power plant with a battery tank on the island of Unije. This project is being developed in partnership with the Kvarner Energy Development Agency.

By 2023, HEP will invest 750 million kuna in solar power plants

Such projects are a great opportunity for all Croatian cities and municipalities, and on July the 2nd, 2020, HEP published a Public Invitation to all interested partners to express their interest in the development and sale of renewable energy projects in the Republic of Croatia, which will remain open until December the 31st, 2020. The call was sent to local self-government units for the joint preparation of development documentation for solar power plant projects, as well as legal and natural persons with slightly different criteria.

HEP decided to announce a new public call based on good experience in the response to their previous call from back in 2019. Based on the analysis of received expressions of interest and communication with local governments as potential partners, from September 2019 to April 2020, HEP signed agreements with 11 municipalities and cities on the development of solar power plant projects, with a total capacity of 120 MW.

HEP will invest 750 million kuna in the cycle of construction of solar power plants in Croatia during the period from 2019 to 2023 alone. These and other newly built HEP power plants will help meet Croatia's obligations in implementing the European Union's ambitious energy and climate goals, which were recently given their framework in the form of the European Green Plan.

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As Novac writes on the 23rd of June, 2020, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, the Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli and the President of the Management Board of Hrvatska elektroprivreda, Frane Barbaric, laid the foundation stone for the construction of the largest Croatian solar power plant, located on the island of Cres, worth 41 million kuna.

It is the largest solar power plant under construction in Croatia, and it stretches over seventeen hectares. Located just two kilometres north of Orlec, with a capacity of 6.5 MW, this Croatian power plant will, as they say, contribute to the strengthening of the security of the electricity supply and increase the overall level of energy self-sufficiency of the islands of Cres and Losinj, especially during the tourist season when electricity consumption increases quite dramatically.

Despite the global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, HEP has continued without hesitation to implement its impressive investment plan for the year 2020, which was set at the highest amount in the company's entire history - almost five billion kuna.

''We're doing this because we're aware that the continuation of our investment cycle and investments in which the Croatian component is strongly represented, are extremely important for the development and stability of the Croatian economy. The largest part of the investment relates to the realisation of the renewable development scenario of HEP until the year 2030, within which we'll construct 1,500 MW of production capacity. Half of these capacities, which correspond in strength to the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant, will be in solar and wind power plants,'' Barbaric pointed out.

In the future, SE Cres will produce about 8.5 million kWh of electricity per year, which is enough to supply about 2,500 households. In thirteen segments of individual power of 500 kW, a total of 20,330 panels made by the Croatian company Solvis will be installed, and this new Croatian solar power plant should start operating fully by the end of this year.

''This commendable investment will contribute to the energy independence and development of the island of Cres. The synergy of investments in energy and transport are of crucial importance for keeping the population on our islands, but also for the stability of the Croatian economy in the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic,'' Butkovic emphasised.

HEP plans to install two more solar power plants on the beautiful island of Cres, SE Cres 2 of 4.14 MW and SE Ustrine near Osor, with a capacity of 9.99 MW. In addition to them, the company is considering the construction of another Croatian solar power plant on the island of Unije, as well as several power plants across the region of Istria and Kvarner, while in the Istrian city of Porec, they're starting with the second phase of the development of the Kastelir solar power plant.

''The development of such infrastructure, which follows the ecological dimension and acceptability, is extremely important for tourism because without quality infrastructure, it's impossible to develop the type of quality tourism that we want within the direction of sustainable development,'' said Cappelli.

All this is part of HEP's project by which the company wants to create a green energy transition, primarily on the islands located in Kvarner. Namely, this year alone, as much as 74 million kuna has been invested in the construction of solar power plants and electromobility in the general area.

In order for these power plants not to be the only form of improving the living standards of the inhabitants of Croatia's islands, HEP is also moving to further expand the network of ELEN electric charging stations. There are currently 19 ELEN filling stations in the Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties, and an additional 35 are being set up, including filling stations on the islands of Krk and Rab.

For more, follow our lifestyle section.

February 24, 2020 - Zelena akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) and the initiative Ljudi za ljude (Humans for Humans) is helping Croatian citizens living in remote areas of the country, who don't have access to certain basics we all take for granted, such as electricity.

One of the people who will be provided with the solar power panels is Mara Stanić, a 71-year-old woman, living in a village called Čakale, near Glina, who hasn't had electricity in her house for the past ten years. Mara explains that her life is difficult without the electricity during the summer, as well as winter, as during the winter she has no way to store food and prevent it from spoiling. During the winter it's the boredom of the long nights, as well as her difficulty moving on crutches and using the outhouse with nothing more than a flashlight, Marina Kelava writes for h-alter.

That's why the people trying to help Mara and some of her neighbours started the crowdfunding campaign called "Ray of Sun - Light of Hope". They hope to get 13.500 Euros, which will allow them to install the solar panels and installations needed to provide electricity for several of the most vulnerable houses. Branka Bakšić Mitić, Glina's Deputy Mayor and one of the people involved in the "Humans for Humans" initiative explains that it's five or six people, mostly living alone who haven't had electricity for close to 20 years. The quarter of their goal has already been funded. 

In 2019, in one of the first similar projects, they installed the panels for Ljuba Ostojić, who lived without the electricity for 53 years. According to the official records, there are around five thousand people in over two thousand households all over Croatia without access to the electricity; however, Marija Mileta from the Friends of the Earth Croatia Society says that the number is probably higher than that. Their goal with this action is to prove that solar power is one of the key solutions for both energy poverty and the climate crisis. The systems they plan to install will differ, but will cost around 1500 Euros (without the installation costs). These systems won't allow for any bigger appliances to be used but will provide the light, radio and charging for the cell phones (needed for emergencies).

A year ago the European Index of Energy Poverty was published for the first time. It showed that in 17 EU countries the number of people living in energy poverty is still significant, and Croatia is one of those 17 countries.

Renewable energy sources are increasingly being harnessed on the Croatian coast, where there is ample wind and sun. In addition to wind power plants, which are multiplying every year, the construction of solar power plants is also on the rise.

There is one plant in Istria, which became operational in 2018, and three more will produce electricity in early 2020: on the islands of Cres and Vis and near Vrlika according to Morski on November 26, 2019. With investments of HRK 80 million, Croatian Electric Company (HEP) will add four new power plants to their network with a total capacity of 11.6 megawatts (MW). In the long term, they plan to complete solar power projects with a total power of 350 MW by the end of 2030.

The Kaštelir solar power plant has a capacity of 1 MW and an expected annual production of about 1.5 million kWh, which will meet the electricity needs of about 500 households. The power plant is equipped with solar panels manufactured by the Solvis company in Varaždin. This plant has been operating since December 2018. It has a contract with HROTE (Croatian Energy Market Operator) as a preferred producer within their incentive system. Here is an aerial video of the plant.

The location permit for the Cres solar power plant was obtained in June 2018 and that plant is being developed by the County of Primorje-goranska. The location of SE Cres is about 2 kilometers north of the settlement Orlec on the island of Cres. The power plant is 6.5 MW with an expected production capacity of 8.5 million kWh per year, which will meet the electricity needs of about 2,500 households. The total value of the investment is HRK 41 million. Preparatory work on the site is underway and the power plant will begin operating in 2020. Here is a simulation of the Cres power plant.

The Vis solar power plant will be located on the hill of Grizova Glavica, near the village of Žena Glava, about 3.6 kilometers southwest of the town of Vis and about 4.8 kilometers east of Komiža. HEP purchased the project from Končar-Obnovlji izvori energie (Končar Renewable Energy). The expected annual output is 4.2 million kWh, which will meet the needs of about 1,400 households. This investment is valued at HRK 25.3 million. The power plant is under construction and is expected to be operational by February 2020.

The Vrlika Jug solar power plant represents the completion of the first phase of planned construction in the southern part of the Kosora working zone in the town of Vrlika. The power plant will have 2.1 MW of power and an estimated annual output of about 2.9 million kWh. Construction will be completed in the first half of 2020, according to HEP.

For more information on HEP solar plant projects, check out their website here.

To keep updated on renewable energy projects in Croatia, follow our Business page here and our Lifestyle page here.

Electricity from the sun: an initial investment of HRK 35,000 (4700 EUR) will pay for itself within six to eight years! The benefits of investing in a solar power plant on the roof of a single-family home in Croatia are up to 75 percent lowered electricity costs and will protect the buyer from rising market prices.

As Dubravko Grakalić/GlasIstre reports on November 19, 2019; alternative energy is becoming less and less of an alternative, and more commonplace for our households and small businesses. Croatia's two largest electricity companies, HEP and RWE, have begun offering to install solar power plants on rooftops of single-family homes or businesses so that Croatian citizens and residents can generate electricity for their own needs. Interested households can easily arrange with their respective electric providers to become energy self-sufficient.

Simplified Procedure in Croatia

Due its geographical location and number of hours of sunshine a year, Croatia offers considerable potential for harnessing solar energy, experts say, and emphasize that less than one percent of all electricity is currently produced from photovoltaic systems. In early 2019, with the adoption of the Renewable Energy and High-Efficiency Cogeneration Act; self-supply electricity is now regulated by legal norms and the process has been greatly simplified. This legislation has paved the way for Croatian households to make the most of the sun's energy for their own benefit and makes the use of solar power plants more accessible to everyone.

- The simplified procedure for issuing energy approvals enables citizens to become self-suppliers by having their own solar power plant installed, which will meet most of their electricity needs; even up to 75 percent. This offer applies primarily to households and small businesses within the tourism, hospitality and trade sectors, says Zoran Miliša, CEO of RWE Energija Croatia.

Setting up a solar power plant does not pollute the environment. And it produces electricity from sunlight, a renewable energy source, which is a safe and low-risk investment, according to the companies offering solar power plant installation to customers.

The benefit of investing in solar power plant on the roof of a single-family-home is up to 75 percent lower electricity costs and will protect the buyer from rising market prices. The repayment period is estimated at six to eight years. RWE Energija's solar power plant installation offer includes a 25-year warranty and 10 years of insurance. Customers can expect to have their power plants installed within 90 days and the installation itself takes up to two business days.

The solar consultants at RWE Energija handle the necessary documentation and provide advice on choosing an optimal solution for every roof. And clearly there is an increase in the value of rental space for tourists who prefer environmentally friendly accommodations and are willing to pay a higher price for them, they say at RWE. They also offer solar calculator on their website so that prospective customers can see for themselves how much they will save with a solar power plant.

RWE Solar Calculator

After entering the real estate location and electricity consumption on an annual basis, the RWE solar calculator calculates the savings for every prospective customer. The calculator also accounts for the estimated power capacity of the power plant, the targeted amount of electricity, and the minimum roof area needed to install the solar panels. And it calculates the estimated repayment time. The minimum recommended annual consumption for the higher tariff is 2500 kWh. Then, the orientation of the roof, type of construction and the productivity of a solar power plant are assessed onsite. A perfect example is a family house on the coast with a north-south roof orientation. They calculate the available roof surface and consider that a power plant of 3 kWp requires about 18 square meters of roof. A 5 kWp power plant requires approximately 28 square meters of roof. The average power plant has a capacity of 3 kWp and is priced from HRK 35,000 (4700 EUR), which RWE Energija allows customers to repay over 36 installments.

Legalizing the power plant isn’t necessary since a mandatory part of the supporting documentation is proof that the building is legal (i.e. a building permit). As a solar power plant connects to a metered site, it is assumed that any building that has a meter is already legal, they explain at RWE energija. RWE will purchase any excess electricity produced by a solar power plant, but that is not currently a profitable venture for most home electricity producers.

HEP Upcoming Offer

HEP (Hrvatska elektroprivreda) will also offer two similar services to its customers very soon. HEP ESCO, a HEP company that offers various energy services, in collaboration with HEP Supply, will launch a HEPI Solar project designed for customers interested in erecting a solar power plant on their roof to cover their personal electricity consumption.

HEP will offer solar power plants from 4 to 10 kWp according to the ESCO model. This means that the company will independently finance the installation of such a power plant and maintain it for the ten years. The power plants will be paid for by the surplus electricity the plant produces, which will then be supplied to the grid. Signing three contracts is the only the legal prerequisite. The power plant will become the property of building owner after the contract period expires, HEP explained.

More information on the RWE solar plant offer and their solar calculator can be found here. Check out the HEP website regularly here for information on their upcoming solar plant offer.

For more information on clean energy in Croatia, follow our Lifestyle page.

The Orlec Trinket will be built on the beautiful island of Cres, with work beginning in 2020.

Transmission and distribution are less visible, but remain vital parts of the energy system in each country.

Good news for Cres and the environment.

Solar panels are the future, and a particularly bright one (no pun intended) for one Croatian municipality.