Residents of the Spickovina district in Zabok have launched Croatia’s first operational energy community, marking a small but important step in the shift toward decentralized renewable power.
The project, implemented on the roof of the local Volunteer Fire Department building, is based on a jointly financed solar photovoltaic installation that began producing electricity on 1 June. From July onward, the generated electricity is being shared among 17 participating members, including households, a small business, and the fire department itself. The allocated energy is directly reflected on participants’ electricity bills, reducing their individual consumption costs.
Instead of installing separate rooftop systems, the community chose a collective model in which members co-invested in a single installation and share both the energy output and financial benefits. According to the Regional Energy and Climate Agency of Northwest Croatia (REGEA), this makes Spickovina the first fully functioning example of a legally enabled energy community operating in Croatia.
Although Croatia introduced the legal framework for energy communities several years ago, implementation had been limited. The Spickovina project—developed under the European SHAREs programme—is the first to move beyond theory into a working, real-world structure for local energy sharing. REGEA managed the technical design, administrative process, and community coordination, while the City of Zabok provided financial and organizational support.
The initiative is already expanding into a second phase. Through the EU-funded ENERCOM Facility (LIFE programme), the community secured €45,000 to develop a long-term business plan. Additional support will come from the Citizen-Led Renovation programme, which will help members assess further efficiency upgrades, including insulation improvements, window replacements, heating system modernization, and potential heat pump installations.
REGEA highlighted the project as a replicable model for other municipalities in Croatia, suggesting that Spickovina could serve as a blueprint for future community-based renewable energy schemes across the country.
