Energy in Croatia

Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) is the national energy company charged with production, transmission and distribution of electricity.

File:Electric energy in Croatia.png

At the end of 2022, the total available power of power plants on the territory of the Republic of Croatia was 4,946.8 MW, of which 1,534.6 MW in thermal power plants, 2,203.4 MW in hydropower plants, 986.9 MW in wind power plants and 222.0 MW in solar power plants. For the needs of the electric power system of the Republic of Croatia, 348 MW from NPP Krško is also used (ie. 50% of the total available power of the power plant in accordance with the ownership shares).

The total production of electricity in the Republic of Croatia in 2022 was 14,220.5 GWh, whereby 63.7 percent (9,064.9 GWh) was produced from renewable energy sources, including large hydropower plants. In this percentage, large hydropower plants participated with 38.4 percent (5,454.2 GWh), and 25.4 percent (3,610.8 GWh) of electricity was produced from other renewable sources (wind energy, small hydropower plants, biomass, geothermal energy, biogas and photovoltaic systems). Domestic electricity production covered 75.2 percent (14,220.5 GWh) of electricity needs, which in 2022 amounted to 18,915.3 GWh. The import of electricity in 2022 amounted to 11,919.7 GWh, which is 63.0 percent of the total realized consumption. The export of electricity amounted to 7,224.9 GWh, which is 50.8 percent of the total domestic electricity production (14,220.5 GWh).{{Cite web |title=Energija u Hrvatskoj 2022 |url=https://eihp.hr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Energija-u-HR-22_WEB-novo.pdf |access-date=22 February 2024 |website=Energetski institut Hrvoje Požar |publisher=Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Republic of Croatia |language=hr, en |issn=1848-1787}}

Croatia has 28 hydropower plants of which 2 are reversible, 2 small size and 1 pumped storage. They are distributed in three production areas: North, West and South with one independent plant, and are HEP's most important source of renewable energy.{{Cite web |title=Hidroelektrane |trans-title=Hydropower plants |url=https://www.hep.hr/proizvodnja/hidroelektrane-1528/1528 |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=HEP Proizvodnja |language=hr}}

Most of Croatian wind energy is produced by companies in private ownership for difference of other types of energy production. Out of 25 wind firms only one is owned by HEP (VE Korlat) while others are mainly owned by private companies or foreign energy corporations.{{Cite web |date=March 2023 |title=Mjesečni izvještaj o proizvodnji vjetroelektrana u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Monthly report on wind power plant generation in Croatia |url=https://www.hops.hr/page-file/vHaDIGXy1YFQjDVnW7Wst3/izvjestaji-o-proizvodnji-ve-u-rh/HOPS%20-%20Mjese%C4%8Dni%20izvje%C5%A1taj%20o%20proizvodnji%20VE%20u%20HR%20za%20O%C5%BEujak%20%202023.pdf |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=HOPS |language=hr}}

There are 7 thermal power plants of which 4 are also heating plants and one is combined cycle power plant.{{Cite web |title=Termoelektrane |trans-title=Thermal power plants |url=https://www.hep.hr/proizvodnja/termoelektrane-1560/1560 |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=HEP Proizvodnja |language=hr}} Additionally, the first geothermal power plant was opened in 2019, but there are projects and potential for new ones.{{Cite web |title=Otvorena je prva geotermalna elektrana u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=The first Geothermal power plant in Croatia opened |url=https://www.energetika-net.com/obnovljivi-izvori/otvorena-je-prva-geotermalna-elektrana-u-hrvatskoj-29571 |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=energetika-net |language=hr}}

Five biopower plants are now located in Croatia and they are also used for heating purposes.{{Cite web |title=Bioelektrane |trans-title=Biopower plants |url=https://www.hep.hr/proizvodnja/obnovljivi-izvori-energije/be-to-bioelektrane-toplane/1531 |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=HEP Proizvodnja |language=hr}}{{Cite web |title=BE-TO DC GLINA |url=https://www.sumari.hr/biomasa/dvanaestidanibiomase/08.pdf |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=Sumari |language=hr}}{{Cite web |title=Šerif izgradio Be-to Karlovac u sklopu investicije od 200 milijuna kuna |trans-title=Sherif built Be-to Karlovac as part of an investment of HRK 200 million |url=https://lidermedia.hr/poslovna-scena/hrvatska/serif-izgradio-be-to-karlovac-u-sklopu-investicije-od-200-milijuna-kuna-133036/?lang=hr |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=Lider |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brinje biomass cogeneration plant (Croatia) goes into commercial operation |url=http://www.ddtep.hr/brinje-biomass-cogeneration-plant-croatia-goes-into-commercial-operation/?lang=en |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=Djuro Djakovic TEP |language=en}}

Croatia has no nuclear power plants on its territory, but co-owns the Krško Nuclear Power Plant together with Slovenia. The Krško plant was built in the era of Yugoslavia on the territory of present-day Slovenia. Planned decommissioning is by 2043.{{Cite web |last=Rotim |first=Goran |date=22 October 2021 |title=Hoće li se NE Krško produljiti vijek i dograditi? |trans-title=Will the Krško NPP be extended and upgraded? |url=https://vijesti.hrt.hr/gospodarstvo/hoce-li-se-ne-krsko-produljiti-vijek-i-dograditi-3253233 |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=HRT |language=hr}}

In 2014, HEP built nine solar power plants on the roofs of business buildings. The power plants are located in the office building at the headquarters of HEP in Zagreb and the buildings of the HEP Distribution System Operator. Solar power plants have the status of a privileged producer of electricity, which enables the sale of produced electricity to HROTE at a preferential price. Since 2018, Hrvatska elektroprivreda has started building integrated solar power plants according to the concept of a customer with its own production. This model enables a significant reduction in costs for own consumption of electricity. Most of the produced energy is consumed in the buildings themselves, while the rest of the energy is delivered to the distribution network.{{Cite web |title=Integrirane sunčane elektrane |trans-title=Integrated solar power plants |url=https://www.hep.hr/projekti/obnovljivi-izvori-energije/integrirane-suncane-elektrane/2981 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=HEP grupa |language=hr}} HEP's first non-integrated power plant was SE Kaštelir, purchased in 2019 from a private producer, and the first independently built was SE Vis, commissioned in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Neintegrirane sunčane elektrane |trans-title=Non-integrated solar power plants |url=https://www.hep.hr/projekti/obnovljivi-izvori-energije/neintegrirane-suncane-elektrane/3422 |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=HEP grupa |language=hr}}

Croatian transmission grid consists of lines on three different rated voltage levels, namely 400, 220 and 110 kV. Total length of high-voltage lines is {{convert|7763.53|km|2|abbr=on}} while length of medium and low voltage lines is {{convert|141936.9|km|2|abbr=on}}.

The grid was often the target of attacks during Croatian War of Independence, resulting in frequent black-outs during the period. Since then, the grid has been repaired, and reconnected to synchronous grid of Continental Europe synchronous zones 1 and 2, making it an important transit system again.http://www.hep.hr/ops/en/hees/default.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216053848/http://www.hep.hr/ops/en/hees/default.aspx |date=2014-02-16 }} HEP Croatian power system

Under the 2004 Energy law, customers in Croatia are allowed to choose their preferred distributor of electricity. However, HEP Operator distribucijskog sustava or HEP-ODS (a Hrvatska elektroprivreda subsidiary) remains the largest distributor to both industry and households. Its distribution grid is {{convert|142365|km|2|abbr=on}} long, with 26 859 transformers installed, totaling 23,421 MVA of power.{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Godišnje izvješće 2021. |trans-title=Annual report 2021 |url=https://www.hep.hr/ods/UserDocsImages//publikacije/godisnje_izvjesce//godisnje2021.pdf |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=HEP ODS |language=hr}}

In 2022 there were 2,133,522 customers, 95.8% of which were households.{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Izvješće o poslovanju i održivosti HEP grupe za 2023. godinu |trans-title=Report on operations and sustainability of the HEP Group for 2023 |url=https://www.hep.hr/UserDocsImages//dokumenti/Izvjesce%20o%20odrzivosti//HEP_Izvjesce_poslovanje_odrzivost_2023.pdf#page=103&zoom=100,92,265 |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=HEP grupa |publisher=Hrvatska elektroprivreda |language=hr |ref=hep2021}}

With the implementation of the project HE Senj 2, HEP intends to use the remaining hydro potential in the Lika and Gacka basins by upgrading the existing hydropower system. The project involves the construction of a large reservoir and additional capacity in order to transfer production to the top of the daily chart. This will enable the capacity to inject high regulatory power into the power system with flexible hydro units ready for rapid power change. The construction of the hydroelectric power plant will cost 3.4 billion kuna and will have an installed capacity of 412 MW, while the construction deadline is 2028.{{Cite web |title=Hidroenergetski sustav Senj 2 |trans-title=Hydropower system Senj 2 |url=https://www.hep.hr/projekti/hidroenergetski-sustav-senj-2/247 |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=HEP grupa |language=hr}}

In 2023, Croatia had capacity of 1143 MW of Wind energy.{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Renewable capacity statistics 2024 |url=https://www.developmentaid.org/api/frontend/cms/file/2024/03/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2024.pdf |access-date=8 June 2024 |website=IRENA |publisher=International Renewable Energy Agency |language=en, es, fr |publication-place=Abu Dhabi, UAE}} In July 2022, the Spanish company Acciona Energia announced an investment of one hundred million euros in the construction of two wind farms. One will be built in the vicinity of Split, and the other between Šibenik and Knin and will contain 16 wind turbines with a production of 203 GWh of clean electricity per year. The projects named Opor and Boraja 2 will be sufficient to supply 60 thousand households, and the propellers will start spinning at these locations in 2024, after a year and a half of construction and testing. This will avoid the annual emission of 135,000 tons of {{CO2}}. In 2013, the same company built the Jelinak wind park worth 48 million euros.{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=Prvi čovjek španjolskog energetskog diva otkriva detalje megainvesticije u vjetroelektrane u Hrvatskoj, ali i upozorava: Još smo u 70-ima, projekti zapinju na glupostima |trans-title=The first man of the Spanish energy giant reveals the details of the mega-investment in wind farms in Croatia, but also warns: We are still in the 70s, projects get stuck on nonsense |url=https://www.tportal.hr/biznis/clanak/prvi-covjek-spanjolskog-energetskog-diva-otkriva-detalje-megainvesticije-u-vjetroelektrane-u-hrvatskoj-ali-i-upozorava-jos-smo-u-70-ima-projekti-zapinju-na-glupostima-20220719 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=tportal.hr |language=hr}}

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will grant a loan of EUR 43 million to the company Kunovac, jointly owned by the funds Taaleri Energia SolarWind II and ENCRO Kunovac, for the construction and operation of two onshore wind farms in the Zadar region. Zagrebačka banka and Croatian bank for reconstruction and development will participate in the financing with a total loan amount of 126 million euros, and the total network capacity of the two power plants is 111 megawatts, which is enough to power 85,000 households.{{Cite web |date=16 August 2022 |title=EBRD s 43 milijuna eura financira gradnju dviju vjetroelektrana kod Zadra |trans-title=The EBRD is financing the construction of two wind farms near Zadar with EUR 43 million |url=https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/ebrd-s-43-milijuna-eura-financira-gradnju-dviju-vjetroelektrana-kod-zadra/ |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=Novi List |language=hr}}

In January 2023, the Greek energy company EuroEnergy announced that it was taking over the 114 MW wind farm project in Lika-Senj County. The acquisition reserves the right to expand with an additional 70.5 MW of wind capacity, subject to grid upgrades that can increase production. The value of the project is EUR 150 million and will be realized in the area of Udbina.{{Cite web |last=Bičak |first=Darko |date=20 January 2023 |title=U Udbinu dolazi strana investicija od 150 milijuna eura |trans-title=A foreign investment of 150 million euros is coming to Udbina |url=https://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/u-udbinu-dolazi-strana-investicija-od-150-milijuna-eura-4372426 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Poslovni dnevnik |language=hr}}

The action plan for renewable energy sources at sea is the first comprehensive study that looks at the possibilities of renewable energy development in the Adriatic, and it was financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The study considered two technologies: wind farms (stationary and floating) and floating solar farms. Through a spatial analysis of numerous ecological and other technical parameters, the experts came up with data on the possibility of RES development in five zones with an area of 1,260 square kilometers, of which 204 km2 is within the territorial sea. It has been calculated that a 25 GW RES power plant could be installed on that surface. If the area where the medium impact on the landscape is assessed is added to that area, the possible area for RES increases to an additional 1,602 km2 and 44 GW. The development of offshore wind farms in these zones depends on concession agreements between INA and the Republic of Croatia. Also, if hydrocarbon exploitation areas in the central and southern Adriatic are added to that area, a possible 26,000 square kilometers for floating wind power plants and solar power plants will be reached, due to greater depth.{{Cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=Predstavljen Akcijski plan za obnovljivce na Jadranskom moru |trans-title=Presented Action Plan for renewables on the Adriatic Sea |url=https://www.energetika-net.com/obnovljivi-izvori/predstavljen-akcijski-plan-za-obnovljivce-na-jadranskom-moru |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=energetika-net.com |language=hr}}

In December 2019, the project of building a new high-efficiency combi-cogeneration unit KKE EL-TO Zagreb began, electric power 150 MW. The construction lasts for three years, and this project will replace part of the dilapidated and obsolete units at the EL-TO Zagreb location.{{Cite web |title=KKE EL-TO Zagreb |trans-title=KKE EL-TO Zagreb |url=https://www.hep.hr/projekti/kke-el-to-zagreb/1392 |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=HEP grupa |language=hr}} It is expected for a unit to start working in the summer of 2023.

In 1978, the Adriatic island of Vir was selected as a location for a future nuclear power plant, but these plans were abandoned.{{cite magazine|date=27 April 2004|title=Rajski otok za divlju gradnju|url=http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/10970/rajski-otok-za-divlju-gradnju|magazine=Nacional|language=hr|issue=441|access-date=30 October 2016}}

According to reports, since 2009 Croatia has been discussing the option of building a nuclear power plant with Albania, in a location on the shore of Shkodër Lake, on the border with Albania and Montenegro. In April 2009 the Croatian government denied that any agreement had been signed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.climatesceptics.org/europe/albania/croatia-denies-nuclear-plant-contract|title=Croatia Denies Nuclear Plant Contract|date=21 April 2009|work=climatesceptics.org|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204084404/http://www.climatesceptics.org/europe/albania/croatia-denies-nuclear-plant-contract|url-status=dead}}

In a 2012 poll among 447 Croatian citizens, who were asked "Do you think it is justified to use nuclear energy for the production of electricity?", 42% answered "yes" and 44% answered "no".{{cite journal|date=July 2012|title=Stav javnosti o potrebi izgradnje odlagališta radioaktivnog otpada u Republici Hrvatskoj|trans-title=Public opinion on necessity for construction of repository in the Republic of Croatia|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/107814|format=PDF|journal=Rudarsko-geološko-naftni Zbornik|language=hr|publisher=Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb|volume=24|issue=1|pages=73–80|access-date=30 October 2016}}

In 2021 the Slovenian government has issued an energy permit to GEN Energija for the planning and construction of the second unit of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, followed by a statement by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia Tomislav Ćorić that Croatia "will not look benevolently at the construction of the new bloc".{{Cite news|last=Oharek|first=Tomislav|date=22 July 2021|title=Slovenci izdali dozvolu za novi blok nuklearke u Krškom, Austrijanci kipte od bijesa. A gdje je tu Hrvatska? Zasad - izvan igre|language=hr|trans-title=Slovenians issued a permit for a new block of nuclear power plant in Krško, Austrians are boiling with rage. And where is Croatia? For now - out of the game|work=tportal.hr|url=https://www.tportal.hr/biznis/clanak/slovenci-izdali-dozvolu-za-novi-blok-nuklearke-u-krskom-austrijanci-kipte-od-bijesa-a-gdje-je-tu-hrvatska-zasad-izvan-igre-foto-20210722|access-date=19 September 2021}} In March 2022, Plenković confirmed Croatia's readiness to enter the project of building the second block of the Krško NPP.{{Cite web |date=28 March 2022 |title=Plenković: Ako će se graditi novi blok Krškog, Hrvatska bi u tome participirala |trans-title=Plenković: If a new block of Krško is to be built, Croatia would participate in it |url=https://hr.n1info.com/vijesti/andrej-plenkovic-sastaje-se-u-zagrebu-s-janezom-jansom/ |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=N1 |language=hr}}

As of 2021, Croatia had 100 MW of solar power, providing 0.4% of electricity. The potential for solar energy in Croatia is estimated at 6.8 GW, of which 5.3 GW would be accounted for by utility-scale photovoltaic plants and 1.5 GW by rooftop solar systems.{{cite web |last=Spasić |first=Vladimir |date=4 March 2021 |title=Croatia's solar energy potential estimated at 6.8 GW |url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/croatias-solar-energy-potential-estimated-at-6-8-gw/ |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=Balkan Green Energy News}} Croatia plans to install 1.5 GW of solar capacity by 2024.{{cite web |last=Spasić |first=Vladimir |date=10 November 2021 |title=Croatia to add 1.5 GW of renewables by 2025 |url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/croatia-to-add-1-5-gw-of-renewables-by-2025/ |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=Balkan Green Energy News}} The total solar power grid-connected capacity in Croatia was 461 MW as 2023.

In May 2023, Acciona Energy announced the construction of the largest solar power plant in Croatia. The new power plant will be spread over three million square meters of rugged state land and will have a capacity of 150 MW, which is enough to meet the needs of around 100,000 households. Its official name is SE Promina.

In September 2022, the European Commission approved state support in the amount of 19.8 million euros for the project of building a large-capacity battery system. The project will be built in Šibenik, and will enter into operation in 2023 with a capacity of 10 MW, and ultimately the capacity will be 50 MW.{{Cite web |date=15 September 2022 |title=Evo gdje će se graditi baterijski sustav velikog kapaciteta u Šibeniku: Kažu da za stanovništvo nema straha od zračenja |trans-title=Here is where the large-capacity battery system will be built in Šibenik: They say that the population has no fear of radiation |url=https://m.sibenik.in/zupanija/evo-gdje-ce-se-graditi-baterijski-sustav-velikog-kapaciteta-u-sibeniku-kazu-da-za-stanovnistvo-nema-straha-od-zracenja/160827.html |access-date=28 March 2023 |website=ŠibenikIN |language=hr}}

The results of the geothermal potential research showed that the Virovitica-Podravina County lies on a geothermal basin. The value of the Geothermal Potential Research project in Virovitica-Podravine County, which began in 2019, amounts to 304,169 euros. Therefore, the construction of a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 20 megawatts is planned in that area, which has the potential to become the largest such power plant in Europe. It is designed up to 1,300 meters, and hot water is expected already at 600 meters. An exploratory well was completed in the area of Čađavica, which discovered a geothermal source at a depth of 4,300 meters. The areas of Orahovica, Slatina and Nova Bukovica also have geothermal potential.{{Cite web |last=Tuković |first=Jakov |date=15 November 2023 |title=Virovitica ‘leži’ na energetskom bazenu, gradi se najveća geotermalna elektrana u Europi |trans-title=Virovitica "lies" on the energy basin, the largest geothermal power plant in Europe is being built |url=https://baustela.hr/gradiliste/virovitica-lezi-na-energetskom-bazenu-gradi-se-najveca-geotermalna-elektrana-u-europi/ |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=bauštela.hr |language=hr}}

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