Wpd Adria developing solar power project on site of its wind power plant

The Šestanovac municipality in Croatia’s south could get a hybrid power plant, as wpd Adria is in the process of obtaining licenses for a photovoltaic facility, which it intends to build on the same location where its Katuni wind power plant is.

German company wpd finished its 34.2 MW wind power plant Katuni in 2016 and now it is working on documentation for the installation of a solar power plant at the same site. Mayor of Šestanovac Pave Čikeš told Slobodna Dalmacija the project is in the phase where it needs to be determined whether it requires an environmental impact assessment study. He noted the investor would use the existing access roads and a power substation south of the location, which would bring savings.

Two facilities with different technologies can be combined into a hybrid power plant

Čikeš added the solar power plant would have a capacity of about 30 MW while, according to earlier information, the company’s subsidiary wpd Adria was looking at 35 MW. The mayor said the estimated annual output would be above 50 GWh and that it would translate to over EUR 66,000 for the municipal budget or 5% of the current sum.

Only 2,000 people live in the municipality and renewables may significantly boost its income

Wpd Adria informed the local authority late last year of its intention. If it integrates the planned system with the Katuni wind park, it would have a hybrid power plant. Wind and solar often complement each other in electricity production, as photovoltaics depend on sunlight. The efficiency would be even greater if a battery is added to store energy. Wpd Adria is in rapid expansion in the region.

Another wind power plant, two solar power plants in pipeline in Šestanovac

Šestanovac, located in the south of Croatia, has just 2,000 inhabitants. The solar power plant near the village of Katuni should span 58 hectares while another 72 hectares in the same area is envisaged for photovoltaics. Domestic firm Aureus Navis has shown interest in building a solar power plant of 9.99 MW and now it wants to install another one of the same size, according to the mayor.

In its ten-year development plan, state-owned power utility Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP Group) included a 125 MW wind park on the Umovi hill, shared by Šestanovac, Omiš and Trilj, Čikeš pointed out.