Croatia announces winners from its first utility-scale renewables auctions

Croatia has awarded premiums for 107.5 megawatts (MW) following the first auction for renewable energy endeavors with a large planned capacity. Wind farm projects Boraja 2 and Opor are the biggest among the winners, with 45 MW and 33 MW, respectively, followed by geothermal power plant AAT Geothermae with 10 MW.

The Croatian Electricity Market Operator (HROTE) accepted 16 bids and rejected three. At the auction, premiums were offered for 638 MW. There was a poor response, with an overall 150.1 MW in received bids, of which 107.5 MW passed.

A quota of 300 MW was offered for solar power plants. Out of five bids, four were accepted, with a total capacity of 8 MW. The premium is HRK 495.63 (EUR 65.98) per MWh. Solektra won the right to premiums for three photovoltaic units with a total capacity of 3 MW. Java had a successful bid for a 5 MW facility.

Premiums were awarded to only two wind farm projects, both run by Acciona. Boraja 2 is planned with a capacity of 45 MW, and the Opor Wind Farm should have 33 MW installed. The total quota was also 300 MW.

They were awarded premiums of HRK 453.60 (EUR 60.38) per MWh and HRK 453.59 per MWh, respectively, compared to the ceiling of HRK 460.91 (EUR 61.36) per MWh, HROTE said.

The winners in the wind farms, SHPP, and biogas segments have bid for lower premiums than HROTE’s starting level

Although AAT Geothermae submitted a bid for a 10 MW geothermal power plant, it isn’t part of the 10 MW geothermal quota, but the 10 MW quota for innovative power plants. Its project, which is now eligible for a premium of HRK 1,263.96 (EUR 168.26) per MWh, was previously declared a strategic investment project.

Premiums for small hydropower plants (SHPP) of HRK 1,095.58 (EUR 145.84) per MWh and HRK 1,095.50 (EUR 145.83) per MWh were awarded to companies Odeta and Male Hidre, respectively. The former is developing its Odeta 1 project, with a capacity of 1.25 MW, in the vicinity of Karlovac, and the latter runs and endeavor called Otočac, with a capacity of 1.5 MW, located near an eponymous town. The quota for SHPPs was 4 MW, and it is the only oversubscribed sector in the auction, with 5.4 MW in bids.

All seven bids for biogas were successful. The average awarded premium is HRK 1,476.66 (EUR 196.57) per MWh. The regulator started the auction at HRK 1,482.23 (EUR 197.31) per MWh. Biogas power plants will be built by firms Dominik B, Novčić više (two facilities), Širjan, Stočar, Mesna industrija Natura and Veterinarska ambulanta Martes.

The quota was 16.7 MW, and premiums were awarded for an overall 8.7 MW.