Dispatch from Croatia | August ‘25
***Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'.***
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- New wind farm project faces headwinds – The construction of five wind turbines with a combined capacity of 35 megawatts (MW) in southern Croatia has faced resistance from residents. Construction of the Dazlina onshore wind farm is expected to start in early September, but locals in Šibensko-kninska County have vowed to resist, threatening to block roads. A petition opposing the project launched in June gathered 1,576 signatures in five days. Residents criticised that they were not involved in the project and argued that it could pose a threat to biodiversity as it borders protected areas: 80 bird species live in the area, 55 of which are protected. They also fear it could lead to more pests if bird and bat activity is disturbed.
- Croatia’s first solar village – The SOS Children's Village in Lekenik, central Croatia, is set to become the country’s first fully “solar village”. Solar panels will be installed on all 15 family houses in the village, which provides care for children without parental support. A cooperation agreement was signed by the Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ), Raiffeisen Bank, Biomasa Group, and Kufner Group. The project is valued at 340,000 euros and implementation starts this month. The goal is to create a more sustainable and energy-independent environment by 2026.
- Public bicycles hit Zagreb’s streets – The new "Bajs" public bike system will start in Croatia’s capital Zagreb by the end of the summer. The scheme will make 2,000 bikes available at 180 stations across the city. The bikes will be located near public transport, schools, sports centres, and busy neighbourhoods. The service will operate 24/7 with regular maintenance to ensure availability, city officials said. Pricing starts at 0.50 euros per half-hour, with monthly and annual subscriptions available for five and 30 euros, respectively.
The latest from Croatia - last month in recap
The latest from Croatia - last month in recap
- Replacing polluting heating systems – The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, a governmental fund for financing the energy transition, has launched a public call to help citizens in Slavonski Brod, Sisak, and Kutina – cities with poor air quality – move away from old heating systems. The programme will co-finance the replacement of outdated wood burning systems with eco-friendly ones, such as pyrolytic boilers (a modern wood boiler), heat pumps, and solar thermal. A total of 10 million euros is available. Households can apply for grants of up to 16,150 euros.
- “Not all solar is green” protest – NGO Green Action protested in front of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, demanding the rejection of the environmental impact report done for the proposed Gala-Obrovac Sinjski solar plant in south Croatia. The 162.5 MW project would cover 252 hectares of karst terrain near the Dinara Nature Park, a hydrologically sensitive and protected area. Activists warn the project would require the felling of forest trees, which is not allowed under environmental regulations.
- Net Zero living begins in Zagreb - Croatia’s first “net-zero” family home is under construction near Zagreb. The home will be the country’s first zero-emission building. This means it has no on-site carbon emissions, for example no gas heating or cooking stoves, and has a very high energy performance. The house is constructed using only materials with low CO₂ emissions and will be powered entirely by renewable energy. Completion is expected by the end of 2025.
- Public charging stations not reliable – A report by electric vehicle (EV) charging services provider Qelo warns that Croatia urgently needs more reliable charging stations. There are just over 10,000 charging stations in the country, and their most common problem is their occasional malfunction, EV owners who were surveyed for the report said. "Charging deserts" are also a growing problem in rural areas, along highways, and tourist routes.
Marina's picks - reading recommendations & events
Marina's picks - reading recommendations & events
- Building a self-sufficient thermal spa – Baustela.hr tells the interesting story of the construction of a new thermal spa complex in Bjelovar, a town in north-east Croatia, around 80 kilometres from Zagreb. The project will not use a single metre of gas pipeline, and there will be a solar system on the entire roof and heat pumps for the pool complex. Thermal water will also be pumped from two wells in the immediate vicinity of the complex.
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