Dispatch from Croatia | January ‘26
***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 nuclear plans advance – Croatia is a step closer to building its own nuclear power plant after the economy ministry launched a public e-consultation in December on the future use of nuclear power. The proposal envisages adopting a nuclear programme by 2040, doubling the share of nuclear power in the electricity supply from the current 16 percent (from the Krško plant it shares with Slovenia) to 30 percent, primarily through small modular reactors. Potential locations include Erdut in eastern Croatia, on the border with Serbia, and Prevlaka near Ivanić-Grad in central Croatia. A final decision will be made once expert analyses confirm the project’s feasibility. The consultation is open until 17 January. Croatia has previously, on several occasions, expressed interest in cooperating with Slovenia in the construction of a second unit of the Krško nuclear power plant.
- EV subsidies for taxi and delivery fleets – The Croatian government has opened its first public call offering subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) for taxi, delivery and car-sharing services. Forty-five million euros are available in the scheme issued by the environment ministry, with a maximum subsidy of nine thousand euros per vehicle. Applications open on 15 January and will be accepted until the funds are exhausted, or no later than 30 September. Croatia has subsidised the purchase of EVs since 2014, yet their overall share is still low.
The latest from Croatia - last month in recap
The latest from Croatia - last month in recap
- Nuclear waste storage – Croatia’s parliament passed a law for the construction of a radioactive waste management centre for the Krško nuclear power plant, which was built in 1981 as a joint venture between Slovenia and Croatia, then both part of Yugoslavia. The law permits the completion of an environmental impact assessment before construction begins. Under its agreement with Slovenia on joint ownership and responsibilities, Croatia is required to begin the removal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste from the Krško plant, located in Slovenia, by early 2028.
The proposed location for the waste facility is the former Čerkezovac barracks on Trgovska Gora, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Saša Košarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, called Croatia’s plan to build the facility less than a kilometre from the border “unacceptable”, and announced the country may take legal action at an international court. - New billing for surplus home solar – Croatia began 2026 by changing the way it rewards households for producing surplus electricity. Under the new “net-billing” system, surplus electricity produced by households is sold back to the grid at market rates, instead of being directly offset against consumption. Market or feed-in rates are typically much lower than the price paid for electricity purchased from the grid because it includes the full tariff, including distribution fees. Previously, a “net metering” model allowed households which produced more electricity than they consumed to effectively “store” the surplus in the grid for later use at no extra cost.
- Net-zero buildings by 2050 – A new package of laws came into effect on 1 January, including the Building Energy Efficiency Act, which raises the standards for energy performance in buildings. The new regulations impose stricter requirements for insulation, energy management, and climate resilience, meaning that future buildings must be designed to consume less energy and reduce emissions. Under the act, all buildings are expected to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2050.
- Harnessing solar along highways – Croatia’s highway operator, Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC), has launched a project to install solar panels along a major highway. The panels could boost energy independence and supply electric vehicle chargers. HAC plans to deploy 259 EV chargers over the next five years.
Katarina's picks - reading recommendations
Katarina's picks - reading recommendations
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Renewable energy report highlights solar shortfall – Unfavourable hydrological conditions significantly reduced hydropower generation, while a lack of installed solar capacity led to increased electricity imports, according to a report by the industry association “The Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia (OIEH)”. Electricity imports accounted for nearly 25 percent of total available electricity. Although production from other renewable sources such as wind, biomass, and biogas increased, it was insufficient to meet peak summer demand, and OIEH emphasised that the installation of around two gigawatts of new solar capacity could substantially reduce import dependency and mitigate the high costs of electricity on the market.
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