Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the construction site of 58 MW wind farm Korlat near Benkovac, an investment worth over 65 million euros. This will be the first wind farm operated by state-owned power utility HEP.
PM Plenkovic said that this investment is indeed important because it shows that HEP, as Croatia’s strongest and most important energy company, has a good understanding of the context of Croatia’s new energy development strategy, which is being prepared, as well as of our focus on renewable energy sources, in line with our global commitments and European trends.
According to HEP, the expected annual output of 170 GWh, or 1 % of the annual electricity consumption in Croatia, will be enough to supply more than 50,000 households. HEP already signed a contract with Nordex for the supply of wind turbines and the plant should be commissioned in August 2020.
In early 2019, HEP has launched a public invitation for the expression of interest for joint development and construction of renewable energy (RES) facilities in Croatia and the integration of completed or highly developed renewables projects into its production portfolio. Through this invitation, HEP is looking for partners interested in the development and sale of RES projects in Croatia, including local governments interested in the construction of solar power plants. The invitation also refers to the sale of off-grid solar power plants under development, with an installed capacity of at least 2 MW, the sale of wind energy projects under development, the sale of operational wind facilities, the sale of hydropower plants under development with an installed capacity of at least 1 MW, and the sale of already operational HPPs with an installed capacity of at least 1 MW. The deadline for the expression of interest in 31 December 2019.
HEP plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its portfolio from 35 to 50 % by 2030. This objective will be achieved through the revitalization and output boost of existing hydropower plants, as well as through the construction of new RES facilities. The tender for the construction of a solar power plant on the island of Cres is already ongoing, as well as the procedures for the acquisitions of a solar power plant on the island of Vis and two wind farms near Zadar. HEP’s CEO Frane Barbaric said previously that the company will invest some 80 million euros in wind and solar power in 2019.
