A severe storm with strong winds has destroyed one of Croatia’s largest solar power plants, located above Obrovac on the site of a former alumina factory. Built in 2023, the 5 MW solar facility, covering 14.5 hectares, was designed to supply electricity to 3,500 households. This unprecedented storm raises concerns about the suitability of the under-Velebit region for such renewable energy investments.
The storm has severely impacted the project, which was a 5 million euros joint Slovenian-Austrian investment. Hundreds of solar panels have been scattered, the plant’s structure has been twisted, and electricity production has come to a halt. This incident has caused significant setbacks for the investors, questioning the resilience of solar plants in this region.
Croatia currently operates seven large-scale solar power plants, with two located in the nearby municipality of Jasenice. Additionally, the country has ambitious plans for further development, as outlined in a 2019 spatial plan, which includes at least two more solar plants in the same area. However, this storm has sparked concern among local residents, who have organized protests against the construction of new solar power plants in the region, fearing similar damage in the future.
