Factsheet for measure
HR-2022-27/2780
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Updated
– measures in Croatia
Transition to an energy and resource efficient economy
Potpora poduzećima za tranziciju na energetski i resursno učinkovito gospodarstvo
Background information
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development announced a call for project proposals to support companies' transition to an energy- and resource-efficient economy. These proposals should support faster adaptation to current and future environmental requirements, mitigate the negative effects of the economy on the climate and environment, increase the sustainability of production, preserve existing jobs, create new jobs, and strengthen local and regional competitiveness. The support is awarded through an open award procedure.
Content of measure
The goal of the call for proposals is to encourage production investments of small and medium-sized, and medium capitalized private companies in energy-intensive industries. The investments relate to the promotion of the circular economy. This involves the introduction of resource efficiency in the production cycle and product life, as well as the reduction of harmful emissions from energy-intensive industries.
Acceptable activities that can be financed under this measure include:
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initial investments in tangible and intangible assets for new technologies in business processes that result in more efficient use of resources and/or reduction of energy consumption and/or reduction of CO2 emissions
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investments to stimulate the production of electricity/heat/cooling energy from renewable sources (sun, wind, geothermal)
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implementation of the energy audit of companies for small and medium-sized companies
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preparation of technical documentation, project management and project audit related to the transition to energy and resource efficient economy.
Total value of the call is HRK 1,900 million (€252.3 million). The amount of grants that can be awarded per applicant is for small and medium-sized companies from HRK 750,000 to 7,500,000 (€99,602 to 996,016), while for medium capitalized companies: from HRK 2,000,000 to 35,000,000 (€265,604 to 464,807). Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises and medium-sized private enterprises from energy-intensive industries (classes from sector C according to NACE 2007): food industry (10), textile production (13), wood processing industry (16), paper industry (17), chemical industry (20), manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products (23), and metalworking industry (24). Application period was from 1 August to 1 December 2022.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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18 August 2025
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The Ministry of Economy has launched a call for proposals to encourage production investments in small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps from energy-intensive industries. The investments should result in a more energy- and resource-efficient economy through the promotion of a circular economy by introducing resource efficiency into the production cycle and product life cycle. The purpose of the call is to support faster and better adaptation of the economy to current and future environmental requirements, and through investments in the green transition and the creation of green skills, to influence the reduction of negative impacts on the climate and environment, increased sustainability of production, preservation of existing and creation of new jobs and strengthening local and regional competitiveness. The expected impact is a reduction in harmful emissions by at least 20%, the use of renewable energy sources, and the use of recycled and recoverable materials in the total volume of materials in production of at no less than 20%. The total available grant amount is €145 million. The minimum amount of support for small and medium-sized enterprises is €70,000, and the maximum amount of support is €995,000. For mid-cap companies, the minimum amount of support is €265,400, and the maximum amount of support is 4,645,200. The deadline for submitting proposals was 31 January 2025
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19 November 2024
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A photovoltaic solar power plant, worth €300,000, was opened at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Zagreb. The 185-kilowatt (kW) power plant was in trial operation for the first week, after which it received a permanent license to operate. 'After the investment is paid off, which is expected to take about five years, the Faculty of Science and Mathematics will have access to free electricity from these photovoltaic power plants for approximately 15 more years,' said a spokesperson. This energy will be used in research, science, and teaching. The mentioned project demonstrates Croatia's interest in more intensive involvement in the energy transition and the broader green transition. Croatian companies and engineers are actively working on the development of new solutions for the future. There are currently 1,050 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy sources connected to the distribution network in Croatia, which can roughly supply nearly 300,000 households. Of this total, more than 600 MW of solar power plants are connected in Croatia, and 70 MW in Zagreb.
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28 February 2024
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The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund published on its website Amendments to the Terms and Conditions and Criteria for co-financing energy renovation of family houses, in which certain conditions are further clarified and specified. An update to the Technical conditions has been published as well as the mandatory content of the power of attorney, which citizens can use to authorize another person to submit an application on their behalf, has also been published. Also, the Applicant's statement form is available on the website, which also includes the co-owner’s consent form. The change is that the copy of an ID card will not be part of the mandatory documentation, instead the certificate of residence is requested, which is in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. The launch of the public call and the receipt of applications, starts on 13 March 2024. From that day onwards, citizens will be able to download from the Fund's website the application form and the technical budget form, which comprise part of the mandatory application documentation. These are electronic versions of documents that will have to be filled out with basic information about the house and information on planned energy renovation measures or installation of RES systems. In addition, applicants will have to attach to their application all other mandatory documents that they will prepare in advance, such as the applicant's statement, consent of the co-owner, certificate of residence, proof of legality of the house, land registry extract from which the ownership is visible, energy audit and certificate, and quotes from contractors. This year, applications will be submitted through an app linked to the National Identification and Authentication System (NIAS), in which citizens will apply. The link to the application will be published as part of the Public Call. The (co)owners of the family house will be able to file the application themselves or it can be filed on their behalf by a proxy. If the application is submitted by a proxy on behalf of the applicant, a special power of attorney for applying to the public call certified by a notary public must be uploaded to the application form. As a reminder, the public call, for which a record EUR 120 million are available, is intended for citizens who are owners or co-owners of family houses in which they have registered residence. For a house to be eligible for co-financing, more than 50% of the surface area must be used for housing, the gross floor area must not exceed 600m2 or a maximum of 3 dwelling units. The aim of this program, through which the renovation of over 25 thousand family houses has already been co-financed, and which the Fund implements in cooperation with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, is to promote energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energy sources in households.
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09 May 2023
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The activity from 2022 due to its complexity and long-term consequences extended also to 2023 and it can be expected that they will extend further. Total available fund in this call is €252,173,336. The call is still in proceeding.
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Use of measure
Total value of the call: HRK 1.9 billion (€252.3 million). The amount of grants awarded per applicant for small and medium-sized companies is between HRK 750,000 to 7,500,000 (€99,602 to €996,016), while for medium capitalized companies: from HRK 2,000,000 to 35,000,000 (€265,604 to €464,807). Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises and medium-sized private enterprises from energy-intensive industries. Application period was from 1 August to 1 December 2022.
By 29 December 2022 there were 253 applications requesting €225,516,144, which represents 89% of available funds. The total value of the projects was €532,017,283. In this first phase, 143 applications were approved. In the second and third phases 121 applications were approved.
The total amount of approved grant was €104,647,256, while the remaining available funds amount to €19,580,076. The information is obtained on the demand and is not available on the Internet.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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European Funds
National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Due to the nature of the measure, social partners were not involved but they always support all measures and forms of the transition to green economy.
Views and reactions
Social partners in Croatia support measures relating to the transition to green economy. The Autonomous Trade Union in Power Industry, Chemistry and Non-Metal Industry of Croatia on the conference held on 8-9 March 2022, fully supported the activities of transition to green economy, including various governments grants to green energy production. Trade unions underlined the need to adjust their activities to prepare for the future demands of the economy.
Sectors and occupations
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This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
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Economic area
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Sector (NACE level 2)
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C - Manufacturing
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C10 Manufacture of food products
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C13 Manufacture of textiles
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C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
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C17 Manufacture of paper and paper products
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C20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
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C23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
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C24 Manufacture of basic metals
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This case is not occupation-specific.
Sources
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10 March 2022: Socijalni partneri o Zelenom planu (Social partners on the Green Deal)
(www.ekn.hr)
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01 July 2022: Potpora poduzećima za tranziciju na energetski i resursno učinkovito gospodarstvo (The support to companies for the transition to energy and resource efficient economy)
(mingor.gov.hr)
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29 December 2022: The current results with the call for transition to energy and resource economy
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28 February 2024: Public Call for the energy renovation of family houses will start on 13 March 2024 (Javni poziv za energetske obnove kuća počinje 13. ožujka 2014.)
(www.fzoeu.hr)
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19 July 2024: A new photovoltaic solar power plant in Zagreb (Nova fotonaponska sunčana elektrana u Zagrebu)
(magazin.hrt.hr)
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17 October 2024: Support for green transition
(eufondovi.gov.hr)
