Croatia has begun construction on its biggest solar power plant with 6.5 MW capacity. The Europan country expects this will bring in self-sufficiency in terms of electricity generation on the islands of Cres and Losinj, especially during the tourist season. State backed utility Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP) is constructing the Cres Solar Power Plant for an estimated value of HRK 41 million ($6.09 million), without state subsidies.
HEP believes the project will generate close to 8.5 million kWh of clean power annually with 20,330 solar panels made by local manufacturer Solvis. The installation will be completed in 13 segments of 500 kW each while taking care not to disturb the natural habitat of native animals here.
A consortium of PVI Solar, PVI GmbH, Intecco and Deling was selected by HEP through a competitive process that's responsible for bringing the project online by the end of 2020. The Cres-Losenj archipelago is the largest archipelago in the Adriatic and is committed to completing its decarbonization by 2040 with the help of 22.5 MW solar PV capacity.
HEP is also constructing the 1 MW Marici Solar Power Plant near Zminj and plans to start construction on the 2 MW Kastelir solar facility in Porec soon. These projects are subsidy free. Among its other solar projects, HEP said the largest capacity is will be brought online through the Nova Vas Solar Power Plant with 40 MW capacity in Istria and Kvarner.
As per the utility's previously shared plans, HEP wants to invest HRK 750 million to develop 350 MW of solar power capacity by 2030.
In May 2020, the Croatian government announced plans to tender 2,265 MW of renewable energy and cogeneration capacity including more than 1 GW reserved for solar power plants.