Croatia has 776 MW in 25,406 solar power plants connected to distribution grid

At the end of November 2024, Croatia had 25,406 solar power plants on the distribution grid, with a total capacity of 776 MW.

The country achieved growth of 60% since the end of 2023 in both the number of photovoltaic plants and their capacity.

Great interest in installing solar power plants for the production of electricity for self-consumption is demonstrated by the approved number of grid connection applications, according to Croatia’s distribution system operator HEP – Operator Distribucijskog Sustava (HEP-ODS).

At the end of November 2024, 25,406 solar power plants with a total capacity of 776 MW were connected to the HEP-ODS distribution network.

Over the first eleven months of 2024, HEP-ODS has connected 9,821 PV plants

Households had 19,022 PV facilities, with 134 MW overall, of which 18,709, with a capacity of 132 MW, were in the self-consumption scheme. Entrepreneurs installed 6,384 plants with a capacity of 642 MW in total, of which 366, or 14 MW, were in the self-consumption scheme.

Over the first eleven months of 2024, HEP-ODS connected 9,821 photovoltaic plants, with a total capacity of 290 MW. According to the operator, households added 8,143 power plants, and entrepreneurs 1,678.

Solar power capacity is on track to overtake hydropower by 2040

It means that the number of solar power plants increased from 15,585 to 25,406 in the reporting period while capacity grew from 486 MW to 776 MW, or by 60%.

According to an analysis published by Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), the share of renewable energy sources in electricity consumption in Croatia is currently in the upper part of the list among European Union countries.

Solar power capacity should overtake hydropower by 2040, the analysis reads.

Solar power is seen rising from 222 MW in 2022 to 2,382 MW in 2030. The projection shows it surpassing hydropower capacity by 2040, hitting 4,860 MW against 3,563 MW. The total electricity production capacity would reach 8,969 MW by 2030, rise to 13,094 MW in the next ten years, and then to 14,732 MW by 2050.