Croatia’s power company HEP signed agreements with 11 local government units on the development of solar power plant projects with the total power of 120 megawatts (MW).
Following the success of last year’s public call, the company launched a new call to all interested partners for the development and sale of renewable energy sources projects in Croatia.
The call is made to local government units for the purpose of mutual preparation of development documentation for solar power plant projects (SPP) and to legal and natural persons interested to sell the projects of unintegrated (stand-alone) solar power plants developing a power of 2 MW or more, wind farms and hydropower plants in development or in operation, with the power of 1 MW or more.
“I would like to congratulate HEP on its vision and proactive politics shown by its cooperation with local government units when realising these projects,” said Tomislav Čorić (pictured above), the envoy of the Prime Minister of the Croatian government, and the Minister of Environment and Energy. “The compatibility of HEP’s strategy and the Croatian government is an indicator of HEP deserving to be the company which is going to carry the transition of Croatia to a low-carbon economy. I hope this example of good practice will serve private investors as a guide towards the direction we shall take.”
The response to the 2019 call brought agreements with 11 municipalities and towns on the development of solar power plant projects with the total power of 120 MW, in the period between September 2019 and April 2020. HEP ensured additional 60 megawatts on the basis of the call through contracted acquisitions of projects in development, whereas 100 MW is the potential total power of solar power plants, which HEP began to develop independently in several other locations.
“Cooperation with the local community helps us hasten the realisation of our renewable scenario of development,” said Frane Barbarić, the President of the Management Board of HEP. “However, municipalities and towns have a chance for stronger engagement on the development of sustainable energy infrastructure in their areas, which is going to contribute to their economic and overall development.”
He also reminded how the Group’s investment cycle has not been stopped or slowed down, but the 2020 investment plan has been set at the biggest amount in the history of the company.
“Currently, we are constructing hydropower system Kosinj/Senj2, the biggest project of HEP in independent Croatia, worth 3.4 billion kunas (450 million euros) […],” he added. “Our plan by 2030 is to have new 1,500 megawatts in generation capacities, 350 megawatts of which in windfarms and the same amount in solar power plants.”
HEP is going to invest 750 million kunas (almost 100 million euros) in the construction of solar power plants between 2019 and 2023. These and other HEP’s newly constructed power plants are going to help with fulfilling Croatian obligations when implementing ambitious energetic and climatic EU objectives, which have recently got their framework in form of the European Green Deal.
