Croatia’s heavy reliance on electricity imports continues to be a major concern for the country’s energy security, with imported electricity accounting for a significant 24.8% of total consumption. In the summer of 2024, Croatia imported a total of 1,316 GWh of electricity, underscoring the pressing need for the development of domestic renewable energy sources to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign suppliers. This was highlighted in a recent report from the Association of Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia (OIEH).
The financial impact of Croatia’s reliance on electricity imports is striking. When factoring in the market value of the imported electricity (€135 million), the cost of CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel thermal plants (€44 million), and the market value of raw materials for these plants (€110 million), Croatia paid a staggering €289 million over the summer. This amount, OIEH points out, could have been used to build vital infrastructure for domestic renewable energy, helping the country move toward energy independence.
The OIEH’s report, which analyzed electricity trends from June to August 2024, also highlighted the country’s soaring electricity consumption, which set historic records. The intense heat waves during the summer, compounded by the peak tourist season, led to exceptionally high demand. On some days, Croatia’s electricity consumption exceeded 70,000 MWh, with the average daily consumption for the summer period reaching 58,122 MWh. The report further noted that for every degree Celsius above the average temperature in July, daily consumption rose by 1,750 MWh. This sharp increase in demand was largely due to widespread use of air conditioning and other cooling devices, with an estimated 1,200 MW of cooling capacity now installed across Croatia.
This surge in electricity use raises the question of whether Croatia will finally harness its domestic renewable energy potential. The OIEH stresses that the country must focus on expanding its renewable energy infrastructure, especially solar power, to reduce its reliance on imports. In fact, the amount of electricity Croatia imported this summer—1,316 GWh—would equate to the additional production capacity of 2,721 MW of solar energy. The OIEH argues that building this capacity should be a priority to meet peak summer demand and ultimately reduce the need for electricity imports to zero.
A key barrier to advancing renewable energy projects in Croatia is the ongoing delay by the Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA) in determining grid connection fees, which has stalled many projects. According to the OIEH, HERA was supposed to make this decision nearly two years ago, but the lack of action has left 45 renewable energy projects, with a combined capacity of 2,648 MW, in limbo. Although these projects have received energy approvals from the Ministry of Economy, they cannot move forward without a resolution on grid connection fees.
On a positive note, Croatia did experience a historic solar energy milestone in August 2024. On August 12, the country recorded its highest-ever daily solar production, with 4,012 MWh generated, covering 6.5% of the nation’s total consumption for the day. This record-breaking output was attributed to unusually clear skies and high-pressure weather systems over the region, which boosted solar radiation.
Despite this achievement, the OIEH emphasizes that the country must build more solar power plants and streamline regulatory processes to unlock the full potential of renewable energy. By doing so, Croatia could reduce its dependence on foreign electricity imports and take a more sustainable, self-sufficient approach to meeting its energy needs.
