Hrvatska Elektroprivreda commissions largest solar PV plant in Croatia
Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP) announced the commissioning of the 3.5 MW Solar Power Plant Vis, the largest solar power plant in Croatia worth HRK 31 million (EUR 4.1 million), which is the first of seven solar power plants to be put into operation by HEP during this year.
The Solar Power Plant Vis (SPP Vis) will produce, incentive-free and fully market-based, about 5 million kWh of electricity, which corresponds to electricity consumption of about 1,600 households. It is located on the area of 5.5 ha, on the Griževa glavica hill, near the place Žena glava, 3.6 kilometres southwest of the town of Vis and 4.8 kilometres east of the town of Komiža.
The construction of this solar power plant provides the island of Vis with its own source of renewable energy and a higher security of electricity supply, in particular in times of increased demand during tourist seasons.
This solar power plant was constructed by KONČAR – Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering. In addition, the construction management and supervision was carried out by Fractal, a company from Split. This photovoltaic power plant has 11,200 modules with individual power of 340 Wp and five CON SOL converters, each with a power of 720 kW, developed and produced by KONČAR as one of key power plant elements. The power plant operation and supervision system was also developed and produced by KONČAR.
The 1 MW battery tank with capacity of 1.44 MW, first of its size in Croatia, will be installed next to SPP Vis. This battery tank will be used for providing the balancing services of the electric power system and for maintaining the network stability on the island. By constructing solar power plants and accompanying battery tanks, strengthening electric power network including the replacement and construction of undersea cables, and installing EV charging stations, HEP increases the security of supply and facilitates the achievement of a high level of energy self-sufficiency of Croatian islands in line with the highest environmental standards.
State Secretary Ivo Milatić, envoy of the PM of the Republic of Croatia said:
“Putting the largest solar power plant in Croatia into operation is a historical day for the island of Vis and the start of future developments in Croatia in the next 10 years. The Croatian Government began with the implementation of the new energy policy of Croatia and the European Union, focused on green energy investments, very strongly back in 2017. This power plant is the best example of said investment. On behalf of the Croatian Government I would like to congratulate HEP and Končar on delivering such a valuable investment for Croatian power generation and the economy.”
Frane Barbarić, the President of the Management Board of Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. said:
“Solar Power Plant Vis, along with a number of other projects undergoing construction, proves that HEP today does not only speak of plans and promises but of real projects which are being carried out. The implementation of all investment projects, of which only this year we expect a record-high realization exceeding 4 billion kuna, in particular of projects with a high share of domestic participation, strongly contributes to the development and stability of Croatian economy. We are focusing on projects which aim at increasing the quality of life on the islands.”
HEP annually invests an average of one million kuna in improvements of the electric power infrastructure on the island of Vis. In the following three years, the company will invest as much as 30 million kuna in a number of projects including the laying of undersea cables Hvar-Pakleni otoci–Vis and Vis-Biševo, as well as the laying of 20 kW cable lines Ravno Stupišće and Smokova. The works on the installation of the first ELEN EV charging station on the island have also commenced in the town of Vis, which will be followed by the EV charging station in Komiža.
HEP will build new 1,500 MW generation capacity until 2030, of which almost half in wind and solar power plants, corresponding to the capacity of Krško Nuclear Power Plant. The investment cycle of solar power plant construction in the period between 2019 and 2023 is worth 750 million kuna. Currently underway is the HRK 9 m construction of 1 MW Marići Solar Power Plant near Žminj, SPP Kaštelir 2, also in Istria (2 MW, 15 million kuna), SPP Cres, the largest solar power plant under construction in Croatia (6.5 MW, 41 million kuna), SPP Obrovac (5.5 MW, 42.6 million kuna), SPP Vrlika Jug (2.1 MW, 11 million kuna) and SPP Stankovci (2.5 MW, 26.3 million kuna). 58 MW Korlat Wind Farm, the first wind power plant in HEP’s generation portfolio, will enter commercial operation until end 2020 (investment value exceeding HRK 500 million).
Source: Press Release by Hrvatska Elektroprivreda. Photo credit: © Hrvatska Elektroprivreda.
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