24.10.2023.
Representative of the Fund Mladen Ilijević participated in the panel at the conference on renewable sources held in Sisak, organised by the Sisak County Chamber and the Sector for Industry and Sustainable Development of the Croatian Chamber of Economy.Different regional solar, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal energy potentials were the topic of the conference "Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development” held in Sisak. The topic of the panel with the Fund's representative dealt with the financing of the green transition including, among others, EU funds and sources such as the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, HBOR and EBRD.
"The Fund participates in the green transition and has programmes aimed at citizens and legal entities, as well as the public sector and local self-government units. As far as entrepreneurs are concerned, we had calls to co-finance the installation of renewable energy sources for own consumption, which mainly included photovoltaic systems or PV power plants. We are currently implementing a call for entrepreneurs for renewable energy sources, which is financed from the Modernisation Fund. We’re planning to co-finance energy efficiency measures from the same source, and to continue with co-financing of renewable energy sources from both national funds and the Modernisation Fund", said Mladen Ilijević, the head of the Fund’s Department for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
The panellists also discussed the opportunities offered to companies regarding the sources of financing and assistance in the adjustment of business through the ESG Academy of the Croatian Chamber of Economy. It was concluded that Croatia is quite successful in terms of the share of green energy in total consumption - last year this share exceeded 32 percent.
"The Croatian Chamber of Economy and its Association for Renewable Energy Sources are committed to maximising the potential of renewable energy sources", said Marija Šćulac, the director of CCE’s Sector for Industry and Sustainable Development.
Numerous projects and investments are being prepared at the level of Sisak-Moslavina County, and the development of four solar power plants in the Novska and Lipik area is underway. An investment has also been announced in the factory for the production of lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles and battery storage modules in Sisak. With an investment value over EUR 300 million, construction of the first phase should start at the end of 2024, while its completion is expected by 2027.
