Electricity from the newly built Korlat solar facility has been delivered to Croatia’s electricity network for the first time, marking the start of trial operations at the country’s largest solar installation. The announcement was made by HEP Group CEO Vice Oršulić during a ceremony commemorating the 130th anniversary of Croatia’s first electricity system.
The solar power plant has an installed capacity of 99 MW and a network connection capacity of 75 MW. Located in northern Dalmatia near the village of Korlat and close to Benkovac, the installation covers around 150 hectares in the Ravni kotari region.
The facility forms part of the Korlat Energy Park, where it operates alongside an existing wind farm of the same name. Together they create Croatia’s first hybrid electricity generation complex, combining solar and wind technologies at a single location. Construction of the solar system was completed in roughly 14 months by a consortium of contractors led by Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute and Norinco International Cooperation, both part of China North Industries Group.
The plant uses solar panels mounted on single-axis tracking systems, enabling the modules to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day and increase overall energy output. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce around 165 GWh of electricity annually.
The project required an investment of about 70 million euros. HEP financed most of the development through a 62 million euros loan package supported by international financial institutions. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided 31.6 million euros, while the remaining amount was supplied by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
