According to a recent Greenpeace report, Croatia has the realistic potential to meet all of its electricity needs from renewable sources by the year 2030. Reaching this goal would require a major shift toward solar and wind energy, along with significant investments in the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
Under the proposed plan, solar power capacity in Croatia would need to increase to 5 gigawatts, while wind energy capacity would reach 4.2 gigawatts. The report notes that this level of expansion is achievable, especially considering the progress made by neighboring countries. For example, Greece has added 7 gigawatts of solar capacity over the past five years, and Hungary has reached 5.5 gigawatts in the same period. In contrast, Croatia has only recently passed the 1-gigawatt mark in installed solar capacity, despite having some of the best solar energy potential in Europe.
The report stresses that strong political commitment is essential for Croatia to fully transition its electricity system to renewable sources. This would involve setting clear policy objectives, modernizing the national electricity grid, building new infrastructure, and developing energy storage systems to ensure reliability and stability.
In addition, the report highlights the role of community participation in the energy transition. By supporting the creation of energy cooperatives, citizens can contribute directly to electricity production, storage, and distribution. This approach allows individuals and communities to play an active role in shaping a more sustainable and self-reliant energy future for Croatia.
