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The Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) and Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) have issued two handbooks for investors, primarily for small and medium-sized projects and prosumers, to guide them through the permitting process for the construction of electricity and heating plants that run on renewable sources.
Two important handbooks have been published for all investors in renewable energy sources in Croatia, detailing the procedure and process from the initial idea to the construction of the energy facility and commissioning, Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) said.
The production of the handbooks was supported by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, as well as the Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA) and distribution system operator HEP ODS.
Issuing the handbooks is a legal obligation
According to EIHP, issuing of the handbooks is a legal obligation under the Law on Renewable Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration, which transposed the provisions of the EU Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU – RED II).
Matija Vajdić, Manager of the Department for Renewable Energy, Climate and Environmental Protection at EIHP, told Balkan Green Energy News that the goal was to create a comprehensive guide providing clear and complete information regarding the licensing procedures for the construction of renewable energy plants for power and heat production.
The handbooks are also applicable to large-scale projects
The handbooks include detailed descriptions of the steps and procedural flowcharts, with a focus on small and medium-sized projects, as well as projects for energy production for self-consumption (prosumers).
While they are also applicable to large projects, the focus was on small and medium-scale investments because large investors generally possess the legal, technical, and other professional capacities, Vajdić asserted.
The key intention, in his words, was to ensure equal, transparent, and accurate information on investments in renewables for all participants.
Vajdić: Similar guides should exist in all Energy Community contracting parties
Asked about the effects, he expressed the expectation that they would be extremely positive.
According to Vajdić, the handbooks provide greater legal certainty, reduce administrative uncertainty, and shorten the time required to understand the procedures. This is particularly important for small and medium-sized investors, as well as citizens wishing to invest in their own energy production, he added.
He believes that the handbooks would facilitate project preparation and encourage new investments.
Similar guides should exist in all EU member states, but also in Energy Community contracting parties, so that procedures are clear and comparable, Vajdić stressed.
These are “living” handbooks and must be regularly updated
EIHP is always ready to provide expert support to the contracting parties in developing such handbooks or digital platforms, because these tools have been proven to accelerate investments and increase transparency in the renewable energy sector, in Vajdić’s words.
He underscored that these are “living” handbooks that must be updated regularly, as regulatory and administrative procedures are constantly being simplified and adapted.
“Ultimately, the goal is to go a step further by establishing a digital platform and a one-stop shop which, in line with the article 16. of the EU directive RED III (Renewable Energy Directive 2023/2413/EU – RED III), will enable investors to access all relevant information, submit applications, and track their project status through a single administrative point in a transparent and efficient manner,” Vajdić stressed.
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