In a notable development for the energy landscape, Croatia has achieved significant milestones in renewable electricity generation during 2025, marking a pivotal change in its energy framework. Provisional statistics indicate that for the first time, wind farms, solar power plants, and biomass thermal units collectively emerged as the primary source of electricity generation.
These renewable technologies produced more than 5 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, representing 26.6% of the country’s total electricity consumption. When hydropower contributions are factored in, renewables accounted for an impressive 52.6% of Croatia’s overall electricity demand in 2025. The total electricity consumption reached a historic high of 19,326 gigawatt-hours (GWh), exceeding 19 TWh annually for the first time and reflecting a growth rate of just over 1% compared to 2024. This trend marks the third consecutive year of increasing demand, with an average annual growth of approximately 322 GWh being matched by new non-hydro renewable generation that expanded by around 376 GWh per year.
Despite these advancements, hydropower remains the largest single generation technology in Croatia; however, its output has experienced a decline due to unfavorable hydrological conditions. Inflows from rivers and reservoirs dropped to 4,831 GWh, representing an 18.4% decrease year-on-year. Pump-storage facilities contributed an additional 191 GWh, bringing total hydro generation to approximately 5,022 GWh, which accounts for around 26% of national consumption.
Nonetheless, the combined output from wind, solar, biomass, and biogas sources exceeded that of hydropower during the year. These renewable technologies collectively generated a record high of 5,142 GWh in 2025, slightly surpassing hydropower output and establishing themselves as the leading group within Croatia’s energy sector.
Despite this robust performance from renewables, Croatia continues to be a net importer of electricity, with imports totaling 3,137 GWh or about 16.2% of overall consumption. Electricity imports occurred in ten out of twelve months throughout the year and peaked during summer and autumn months. The majority of these imports originated from Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Notably, this import volume corresponds roughly to the annual output potential of about 2,600 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity.
Experts in the industry have observed that renewables have transitioned from being supplemental sources to becoming central components of Croatia’s electricity system. However, rising consumption levels coupled with ongoing reliance on imported electricity underscore an urgent need for accelerated deployment of new generation capacities along with necessary network upgrades if Croatia is to make substantial progress in its energy transition goals.
