A new solar power plant is planned for the city of Maribor, where a closed landfill site will be transformed into a renewable energy facility. Slovenian electricity producer Dravske Elektrarne Maribor (DEM) has signed a co-financing agreement with the Government to support the project’s development.
The solar plant, named ZOOP, will be installed at the former Pobrezje landfill. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate roughly 12 GWh of electricity annually, with all output fed directly into the national electricity network.
The total investment for the project is estimated at around 9.6 million euros, with nearly 4 million euros coming from Slovenia’s Modernization Fund and the remainder financed by DEM. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026, following the completion of the contractor selection process, and the facility is expected to be ready for operation by end of 2027.
The project is among the first initiatives in Slovenia to utilize newly introduced legislation that allows renewable energy facilities on closed landfill sites. According to Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer, there are currently 63 such locations across the country suitable for similar projects.
DEM already plays a significant role in Slovenia’s electricity production, operating eight large hydropower plants along the Drava river, in addition to five smaller hydropower facilities and four solar power plants, collectively producing nearly a quarter of the country’s total electricity generation.
