From June to August 2024, Croatia experienced a significant dependence on electricity imports, totaling 1,316 GWh, which accounted for 24.8% of the country’s overall consumption. This reliance underscores the pressing need to develop and implement domestic renewable energy sources to enhance energy independence, according to the Renewable Energy Association of Croatia (OIEH).
The financial impact of these imports is substantial. When factoring in the market value of imported electricity (135 million euros), the market value of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants (44 million euros), and the cost of imported raw materials for these plants (110 million euros), Croatia incurred a total expense of 289 million euros over the summer. This amount could have funded the essential infrastructure needed to support the expansion of renewable energy capacities.
The OIEH’s latest report on electricity trends for June to August 2024 highlights extremely high consumption levels, with historic monthly records set due to soaring temperatures and a busy tourist season. On certain days, consumption surpassed 70,000 MWh, with an average of 58,122 MWh during the summer. Notably, in July, for every degree Celsius above the average temperature, daily consumption rose by 1,750 MWh. It is estimated that around 1,200 MW of capacity is installed in air conditioners and other cooling devices across Croatia.
The imports during this period are equivalent to the additional production required from 2,721 MW of solar power plants that need to be constructed swiftly to eliminate the summer deficit and reduce imports to zero. A major barrier to advancing renewable energy projects in Croatia is the lack of a decision from the Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA) regarding the connection fee, which has been pending for nearly two years. As a result, 45 projects with a combined capacity of 2,648 MW, which have already received energy approvals from the relevant ministry, remain stalled.
Finally, it is worth noting that on August 12, Croatia achieved its highest solar energy production in a single day. Favorable weather conditions, including clear skies and high atmospheric pressure, led to an output of 4,012 MWh, covering 6.5% of total consumption for that day.
