18.03.2021.
The Fund signed contracts with the beneficiaries in the pilot-project for electrification of off-grid households. The project includes the most socially vulnerable citizens in Požega-Slavonija County and Sisak-Moslavina County, where photovoltaic systems will be installed providing them with electricity.The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund has signed the contracts with the beneficiaries in the pilot-project for electrification of households without the connection to the power grid. The project includes the most socially vulnerable citizens in Požega-Slavonija and Sisak-Moslavina Counties, on whose houses the Fund will have photovoltaic systems installed in order to provide them with electricity. Along with the installation and maintenance of the photovoltaic systems, the Fund supplied the beneficiaries with backup generators, household installations, LED light bulbs, and energy efficient refrigerators.
“For some people, this will be the first time they have electricity,” said Director of the Fund Siniša Kukić, adding that the Fund allocated approximately HRK 480 thousand for this project. The works will start next week, and the installation of all PV systems is expected to be completed by mid-April. “This pilot-project is one of the ways to fight energy poverty, and we would like to cover the whole Croatian territory with a similar project allowing access to electricity to all those with no connection not the grid. These are usually y the most socially vulnerable groups that could see significant improvement in the quality of their lives if they had free and accessible energy,” concluded Mr. Kukić.
Apart from rural electrification, last year, in cooperation with the social welfare centres, the Fund the co-financed energy renovation of houses of the citizens at risk of energy poverty, and approx. 16 million kunas of grant funding were approved for 89 houses. Energy audit services were financed in full, as well as the specific energy renovation measures – thermal protection of the building envelope and energy efficient windows and doors, all the way to RES heating systems.
