State owned power generator Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) Group of Croatia has announced the commissioning of the country's largest solar PV project having 8.7 MW DC/7.35 MW AC capacity with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković officially inaugurating it.
Built with 27,544 solar modules produced locally, the Obrovac Solar Power Plant took €6.9 million investment. The project is located in Zadar County in an area that previously housed an aluminum plant.
It is designed to generate around 11.3 million kWh solar power annually, enough to suffice the electricity requirements of over 3,500 households.
"Unlike the former alumina factory, which became a symbol of all unsuccessful and failed investments in the former state, this solar power plant built on its remains, is an example of something quite the opposite – an ecologically unquestionable and economically justified and successful investment," said President of the Management Board at HEP, Frane Barbarić.
He added, "Such are the other 60 renewable energy projects we have planned, with a total capacity of more than 1.5 GW and an estimated value of about €1.6 billion."
Soon, Obrovac's crown as the largest operational solar power plant in Croatia will be taken up by the 9.9 MW Donja Dubrava Solar Project in Međimurje, also by HEP that's already operating 7 PV projects in the country. Post this, the company targets to bring online a 32 MW solar plant in 2023.
HEP's planned renewable energy projects are much bigger in size unlike the Obrovac project, most of which are in Zadar County with a total capacity of 660 MW worth €700 million. It includes 99 MW DC/75 MW AC Korlat Solar Power Plant with an investment value of €80 million. The Korlat project is planned to enter construction stage in 2024. Additionally, it is also working to secure location permits for 45 MW Sukošan and 17 MW Kruševo solar projects.
In July 2022, Croatia's Energy Market Operator (HROTE) received subdued response to its renewable energy auction for 638 MW, receiving bids for only 150.086 MW (see Croatia's 638 MW RE Tender Undersubscribed).