By the end of November 2024, Croatia had 25,406 solar power plants connected to the distribution grid, with a total installed capacity of 776 MW. This marks a 60% increase compared to the end of 2023 in both the number of photovoltaic (PV) plants and their total capacity. The growing interest in solar power for self-consumption is evident from the high number of approved grid connection applications, according to Croatia’s distribution system operator, HEP – Operator Distribucijskog Sustava (HEP-ODS).
Of the total solar power plants, 19,022 were installed by households, contributing 134 MW of capacity. Within this category, 18,709 installations (132 MW) were part of the self-consumption scheme. Entrepreneurs accounted for 6,384 solar power plants, with a combined capacity of 642 MW, of which 366 installations (14 MW) were designated for self-consumption.
In the first eleven months of 2024, HEP-ODS connected 9,821 new PV plants to the grid, adding 290 MW of capacity. Households contributed 8,143 new installations, while businesses added 1,678. As a result, the total number of solar power plants increased from 15,585 at the beginning of the year to 25,406 by November, while total capacity grew from 486 MW to 776 MW, representing a 60% rise.
According to an analysis by the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), Croatia ranks among the leading European Union countries in terms of the share of renewable energy in electricity consumption. The report predicts that solar power capacity will surpass hydropower by 2040.
Solar energy in Croatia is expected to grow from 222 MW in 2022 to 2,382 MW by 2030. By 2040, solar capacity is projected to reach 4,860 MW, surpassing the country’s hydropower capacity, which is estimated to be 3,563 MW at that time. The total electricity production capacity in Croatia is expected to rise to 8,969 MW by 2030, increase to 13,094 MW by 2040, and reach 14,732 MW by 2050.
