Croatia’s first utility-scale renewables auctions undersubscribed

The first auctions in Croatia for awarding premiums for utility-scale renewable power plants resulted in a poor response. Only 19 applications were received for a total capacity of 150 megawatts (MW) while 638 MW was offered.

The Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) announced a public call for premiums on June 17 and investors had until July 4 to send in their bids.

Three bids for an overall 113 MW were received for wind farms, and there were five bids for solar power plants, compared to 300 MW on offer for each technology. For biogas power plants, the quota was 16 MW and the investors sent seven bids for a combined 8.7 MW in capacity.

The quota for hydropower plants (HPPs) was the only one oversubscribed, with three offers for 5.3 MW, and the offer was 4 MW.

The offer for geothermal facilities was met by one bid for a capacity of 10 MW. No bids were received for biomass power plants, and the quota was 8 MW.

The maximum premiums were set in a range from EUR 60 per MWh to almost EUR 200 per MWh

HROTE said it would evaluate the bids within 30 days and pick the winners.

The public call listed the maximum reference values ​​of premiums per megawatt-hour:

• 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).

Auctions for awarding premiums were introduced in Croatia in mid-2020. The first one, for small projects, was held in early 2021. The authorities recently said another round of auctions would be held, with a total quota of 2,010 MW.