Factsheet for measure
HR-2025-8/3707
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Updated
– measures in Croatia
The citizens' initiative for renewable energy
Građanska inicijativa za obnovljivu energiju
Background information
In the City of Križevci, construction of the first solar power plant fully owned by citizens began in early 2025. It represents a milestone not only for this city but also for the whole of Croatia. A 200-kilowatt power plant is being installed on the roof of the City Market thanks to the pooled funds of 127 citizens – members of the Green Energy Cooperative (Zelena energetska zadruga – ZEZ) Sunce (Sun). The project is the result of years of effort and a vision of energy independence, and an indicator that ordinary people can achieve sustainable energy projects through collective action.
Content of measure
The Green Energy Cooperative emphasized that the project is not only an investment in renewable energy sources but also in strengthening the community, democratic decision-making, and energy security. The project began in January 2023 with the establishment of the European cooperative ZEZ Sunce. The cooperative had 57 founders, including Slovenian citizens (the signatures of which required a notary certification, which further prolonged the proces). Following the cooperative registration, the first civic power plant in the country was active. The city of Križevci proved to be a suitable location and partner, offering the roof of the City Market on a 25-year lease. As the price of electricity significantly dropped in 2024, interest in cheap and renewable energy sources declined. However, a public call by the Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) ensured the financial sustainability of the project for 12 years.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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08 December 2025
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In September 2025, Croatia recorded a wide range of activities in renewable energy and decarbonisation. Three new wind farms—Otrić, Vučipolje I and Ljut—entered public consultation in Gračac, with a combined capacity of over 440 MW. The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund temporarily closed its call for residential solar subsidies after receiving 4,100 applications. Several cities and counties, including Umag, Istria and Međimurje, announced new funding schemes for solar installations. Major private and international investments were presented, such as Enlight’s planned 150–170 million EUR wind project in Dalmatia and Kaufland’s large rooftop solar plant in Jastrebarsko. Geothermal exploration advanced in Babina Greda and Vinkovci, while Gorjani installed solar systems on public buildings. OIEH requested EU support to unblock 3.5 GW of stalled domestic projects. Events and educational activities, including the upcoming ZG Green Energy Fair and public lectures on solar power, further promoted renewable energy adoption.
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20 November 2025
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Although citizens are investing in solar projects, energy sharing in Croatia is still not enabled. There are only three energy communities in the country. While some European nations, such as Austria and Germany, count more than a thousand such communities, this concept has yet to take root in Croatia as a tool for empowering citizens in the energy transition – even though the fundamental legislative requirements have been established. How to improve the situation was discussed at the “Good Energy” conference held in Zagreb on 23 October 2025, organized by the Green Energy Cooperative (Zelena energetska zadruga - ZEZ). The focus was on current practices and experiences of energy communities in the Southeast European region. The concept of citizen energy involves users – citizens – in planning, investing in, and managing the energy system, which is typically under the authority of large energy companies. Energy communities are one of the most common models enabling energy production. Citizens, public institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises can join them. Although Croatia has formally implemented the EU directives related to their operation, the development of energy communities is still in its early stages. A key obstacle to the development of energy communities is the fact that the state still has not allowed citizens to share energy with one another - one of the fundamental reasons these communities are established. The main reason is that Croatian Electric Power Company – Operator of Distribution System (HEP-Operator distribucijskog sustava - HEP ODS) does not enable energy sharing. HEP ODS justifies the failure to establish an energy-sharing system with unclear laws and regulations, lack of IT and technical support, and the absence of administrative procedures. Although the system could become operational by the end of 2024, the situation remains unchanged.
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16 April 2025
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The first solar power plant in Croatia, fully owned by citizens, was officially launched on the roof of the City Market in Krizevci. This innovative initiative comes from the energy community ZEZ Sunce (Green Energetic Community Sun), whose ownership shares have been distributed among 127 citizens, a significant number of whom come from Koprivnica - Krizevci County. This is the first step towards strengthening the model in which citizens become active participants in the energy transition. The Community says that this approach allows people to take control of their energy production. This solar power plant is just an introduction to a series of future projects that are planned to be developed in cooperation with other local communities across Croatia. The energy produced will be sold on the market for now, but the goal is to enable community members to use this electricity directly in their homes and business premises in the future, as soon as the law allows it. The City of Krizevci has strived for energy independence by 2030, and has called on other cities and municipalities to get involved in similar projects and to use public resources for the benefit of the community. Participating in this project has been a natural continuation of all stakeholders’ commitment to sustainability and green business.
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Use of measure
The citizens' motivation was clear—they wanted to make a concrete contribution to renewable energy and become co-owners of the solar power plant. Many did not have the opportunity to install solar panels on their roofs, but through ZEZ Sunce, they found a way to be part of the energy transition. The participants wanted to show that something like this is possible in Croatia, just like in some other EU countries. The estimated return on their investments is an annual yield of 3 to 3.5%. The local utility company, the owner of the roof, generates additional income. ZEZ Sunce will invest the surplus funds in the Local Community Fund, supporting socially beneficial projects. Until now, the technical prerequisites for sharing the energy produced among members have not been met, but HEP is working on a solution. Members expect that by the end of 2025, energy sharing within the community will be enabled, which will significantly increase interest in such projects in the local community and Croatia.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Applies to all citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
Local / regional government
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Other
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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
Social partners in Croatia fully support a Green Transition but in this case, they were not involved.
Views and reactions
Social partners in Croatia are well aware of the importance of the Green Transition and they fully support any activities related to the preservation of environment.
Sectors and occupations
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This case is sector-specific
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Economic area
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Sector (NACE level 2)
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D - Electricity, Gas, Steam And Air Conditioning Supply
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D35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
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This case is not occupation-specific.
Sources
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19 February 2025: The citizens' initiative for renewable energy (Građanska inicijativa za obnovljivu energiju)
(hr.bloombergadria.com)
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16 April 2025: Open the first solar plan by the citizens' initiative
(krizevci.tv)
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16 October 2025: What happened in September 2025 in renewable energy (Što se tijekom rujna 2025. radilo po pitanju obnovljivih izvora energije
(www.zgradonacelnik.hr)
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24 October 2025: The obstacle for energy sharing in Croatia (Zapreke dijeljenju energije u Hrvatskoj) The obstacle for energy sharing in Croatia (Zapreke dijeljenju energije u Hrvatskoj) The obstacle for energy sharing in Croatia (Zapreke dijeljenju energije u Hrvatskoj) The obstacle for energy sharing in Croatia (Zapreke dijeljenju energije u Hrvatskoj) The obstacle for energy sharing in Croatia (Zapreke dijeljenju energije u Hrvatskoj)
(klimatski.hr)
