Croatia publishes auction rules for premiums for large power plants

The Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) has published rules, and procedures for granting premiums for solar power plants, wind farms, geothermal, biogas, and biomass power plants, as well as hydropower plants.

The plan is to award premiums for power plants with a total capacity of 630 megawatts (MW). These are the first auctions for large power plants in Croatia. Auctions were introduced in Croatia in mid-2020 as a new model of subsidizing green energy, and the first one for small projects was held in early 2021.

Premiums are awarded for 630 MW

Following the publishing of the rules, and procedures for granting premiums, HROTE will launch a public call for bids. Interested companies will have two months to prepare for bidding.

Eligible for bids are owners of the projects for new renewable energy power plants for electricity production and combined heat and power generation that meet the requirements set by the Law on Renewable Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration, the Decree on Incentives, the Decree on Quotas and the Support Program, a public call reads.

These are the available quotas:

• Solar power plants from 500 kW to 300 MW
• Wind farms from 3 MW to 300 MW
• Geothermal power plants from 500 kW to 10 MW
• Biogas facilities from 500 kW up to and including 2 MW – 8 MW
• Biomass power plants from 500 kW up to and including 5 MW – 8 MW
• Hydropower plants from 500 kW up to and including 10 MW – 4 MW.

The public call adds the maximum reference values ​​of premiums per MWh are the following:

• Solar power plants – HRK 495.63 (EUR 65.47)
• Wind farms – HRK 460.91 (EUR 60.88)
• Geothermal power plants – HRK 1,263.96 (EUR 167.95)
• Biomass power plants – HRK 1,411.57 (EUR 186.45)
• Biogas power plants – HRK 1,482.23 (EUR 195.78)
• Hydropower plants – HRK 1,095.58 (EUR 144.71).

Experts estimate the auctions could attract investments of EUR 1 billion this year alone.