Croatia to launch auctions for renewables by third quarter – ministry

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia plans to announce auctions for large wind farms and solar power plants in the third quarter of the year at the latest.

Preparations for auctions for premiums for large power plants using renewable energy sources were announced a year ago, and later the ministry said they would be held in the autumn. The reasons for the delay have not been revealed. According to the latest update, the auctions are planned to be organized this year.

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development said the timing of the first competition would depend on the number of projects ready for participation, and that it expects to launch it in the third quarter at the latest, Energetika-net portal reported.

Projects in mature phase of preparation have an installed capacity of about 2,000 MW

According to the latest data, the interest of investors is huge. The new law on the electricity market has obliged developers to submit an application for energy approval by January 19 of this year as a necessary step in the development of green energy projects. The applications were introduced to enable a better management in the sector, the article adds.

The ministry said it received 207 requests for energy approval with at least 2,000 MW of installed capacity before the deadline expired.

Milatić: There are enough projects to meet the 2024 target of at least 1,500 MW

Ivo Milatić, State Secretary in the ministry, said he expects 1,600 MW out of the 2,000 MW to be prepared for construction and estimated it would be enough for Croatia to meet its 2024 target of at least 1,500 MW.

Of note, experts estimate auctions could attract investments of EUR 1 billion only this year.

Auctions, as a new model of subsidizing green energy, were introduced in Croatia in mid-2020, and the first one for small projects was held in early 2021.