Uroš Podobnik, Tomaž Štokelj, Zoran Poznič, Marko Funkl (photo: HSE)
Slovenia’s power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) intends to sell at price even to cost of electricity 10% of the annual production from the second phase of the Prapretno solar power plant to the municipalities Trbovlje and Hrastnik. Two municipalities would used it to supply public buildings and lower their power bills.
Hrastnik and Trbovlje, municipalities located in Zasavje, one of the two Slovenian coal regions, were home of the Trbovlje coal power plant and Trbovlje-Hrastnik coal mine. Two facilities are closed and there is now Prapretno photovoltaic plant.
HSE inaugurated 3 MW Prapretno project in 2022. The facility was built on a rehabilitated landfill that belonged to the defunct coal-fired Trbovlje thermal power plant. There is also PV plant located on the former Trbovlje-Hrastnik open-cast coal mine.
The company earlier said that the facility would be expanded to 16 MW, but the second phase envisages the installation of the solar panels with a capacity of 9.8 MW. A battery storage of up to 7 MW will be added to increase flexibility and management of the power plant.
The upgraded part is expected to be operational in October 2025, HSE said.
Štokelj: The energy location in Zasavje region offers a number of opportunities
The company’s management and the mayors of the municipalities of Trbovlje and Hrastnik have signed an agreement on mutual cooperation in the field of renewable energy projects. Under the agreement, HSE commits to sell at price even to cost of electricity 10% of the annual electricity generated from the expanded solar power plant to the municipalities.
The agreement represents an example of good practice and cooperation between the investor and the local community in the imlementation of a renewable energy investment, the three sides said.
“As Slovenia’s most important energy company, the HSE Group has a key and responsible role to play in Slovenia’s green transition,” emphasised the
HSE CEO Tomaž Štokelj said the the company’s development is focused on the potential of renewable energy sources, in particular solar, hydro and wind, while developing green energy solutions for end-users.
“The energy location in Zasavje region offers a number of opportunities to realise our vision of being a leader in Slovenia’s green transition, which is also linked to the national decarbonisation strategy,” he noted.
Podobnik: A great step forward in our joint successful implementation of a number of energy projects
According to HSE CBO Uroš Podobnik, the company has challenging, but fair and constructive interlocutors in the sector of spatial planning in Zasavje region. “I believe that today’s signing of the agreement is a great step forward in our constructive cooperation and joint successful implementation of a number of energy projects in Zasavje region,” he added.
The most important, in his words, is the construction of the hydropower plants on Sava river – Suhadol, Trbovlje and Renke. The project should be discussed in spring 2025.
Trbovlje mayor Zoran Poznič said that the agreement with HSE brings a significant savings for the municipality. It also validates the municipality’s plan to install all public buildings with solar power plants, he noted.
According to Hrastnik mayor Marko Funkl, one of the key tasks of Slovenian municipalities is to reduce fixed costs, including the price of electricity.
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