Slovenia’s HSE starts first phase of 16 MW solar power plant in Prapretno

The largest solar power plant project in Slovenia is under construction as HSE said a 3 MW facility at a recultivated landfill of a thermal power plant would be finished by the end of the year. The company plans to expand the Prapretno photovoltaic system to 16 MW.

State-owned Holding Slovenske elektrarne or HSE, the largest Slovenian producer of electricity, has laid the foundation stone for a 3 MW solar power plant in Prapretno pri Hrastniku in the Zasavje area. It is one of the country’s two coal regions, which are being transformed.

The Prapretno solar power plant project is on a rehabilitated fly ash and gypsum landfill that belonged to the closed Trbovlje thermal power plant. By the end of the third phase in 2023, the capacity should reach 16 MW.

Energy transition in Zasavje to include production of green hydrogen

It is the largest developed photovoltaic project in Slovenia by far, as there are no units with more than 1 MW.

HSE’s subsidiary Dravske elektrarne Maribor (DEM) earlier revealed plans for a 30 MW solar power plant. Hidroelektrarne na spodnji Savi (HESS), controlled by HSE and GEN – also a government-controlled entity, intends to build a 6 MW solar power plant in the vicinity of its Brežice hydropower plant, but Prapretno got the building permit first.

Slovenia is working on the green transformation of its two coal regions

HSE highlighted the significance of the industrial area’s green transition and hinted at plans for the production of green hydrogen.

First phase in Prapretno is worth EUR 2.5 million

The company is implementing its sixth solar power project with its own resources. It estimated the cost of the first phase at EUR 2.5 million excluding value-added tax.

“The beginning of the construction of the Prapretno solar power plant is a success story with which we are turning a new important leaf in the development of Slovenian energy and society, care for the environment and improving the quality of our lives in general,” Minister of Infrastructure Jernej Vrtovec said and added the government is striving to build “as many solar power plants as possible… as soon as possible.”