Renewables

Solar to surpass hydropower in Croatia by 2040

croatia renewables share eu average drazen jaksic eihp

Photo: EIHP/LinkedIn

Published

January 31, 2025

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

January 31, 2025

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

The share of renewable energy sources in electricity consumption in Croatia is currently in the upper part of the list among European Union countries, while solar power capacity should overtake hydropower by 2040, according to Dražen Jakšić, head of the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar.

During an energy conference organized by Jutarnji List, Dražen Jakšić said only Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Portugal have a higher share of renewables in electricity consumption in the European Union. The EU average is 45.3% and Croatia has 58.8%, according to an analysis published by Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP).

For example, the levels are lower in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, while Italy, France and Hungary are below the EU average.

According to Jakšić, Croatia also has a good result when it comes to the share of renewable energy in the direct consumption of electricity. The category covers transport, industry, households, agriculture, and construction.

Croatia’s share of green energy in transport is the lowest in the EU

Croatia’s share of 28.1% made it ninth in the chart, while the EU average is 24.5%.

The country is well positioned in the heating and cooling sector as well, but very poorly in the use of green energy in transport. The average share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector in the EU is 26.2%, compared to 36.2% in Croatia.

As for the transport item, it ranks the lowest, with a share of 0.9%. The EU average is 10.8%. Sweden (33%) and Finland (22%) topped the list.

Jakšić noted that Croatia targets renewable’s share of 78.7% in power consumption, 42.5% in direct consumption, and 24.6% in transport.

Investments estimated at EUR 33.8 billion, only EUR 10.8 billion available

EIHP analyzed electricity generation capacity. At the end of 2022, the total was 5,295 MW, of which hydropower plants accounted for 2,203 MW.

The institute estimated that by 2030 the installed capacity would reach 8,969 MW, rise to 13,094 MW in the next ten years, and then to 14,732 MW by 2050. Solar power is seen rising from 222 MW in 2022 to 2,382 MW in 2030. The projection shows it surpassing hydropower capacity by 2040, hitting 4,860 MW against 3,563 MW, Jakšić said in his presentation of the analysis Green Energy Transition: Are we (too) fast or (too) slow?

Croatia aspires to cover primary energy production domestically with 75.9% by 2050, versus the current 44.2%, he added. By 2030 the share should hit 57.4%, Jakšić stressed.

He warned EUR 33.8 billion is needed to achieve the set energy goals in all sectors and that only EUR 10.8 billion is available.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

serbia ash cement eps coal Lafarge Elixir Group Moravacem

Serbia’s EPS, industry sign contracts on disposal of ash from coal-fired power plants

07 February 2025 - Power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije will sell 30 million tons of ash to Lafarge Serbia, Elixir Group and Moravacem

Đedovic Handanovic, develope cooperation with Slovenia in the field of nuclear energy

Đedović Handanović: Serbia to cooperate with Slovenia in nuclear energy

07 February 2025 - Serbian Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović spoke with Ambassador of Slovenia Damjan Bergant about cooperation in the nuclear energy sector

serbia auctions cfd premiums 40 applications bids wind solar

Serbia’s auctions draw significant interest – 40 projects submitted

07 February 2025 - The country launched the auctions in late November and the deadline for applications expired on February 5

EU to exempt 80 of importers CBAM carbon tax

EU to exempt 80% of importers from CBAM carbon tax

07 February 2025 - European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra vowed to exempt over 80% of companies that are eligible for payments under CBAM