Solar Flex Croatia 2025: Croatia Needs to Accelerate Infrastructure and Battery Storage Development for a Secure and Competitive Energy Future

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Concerns were raised about the alarming state of the national power grid, with over 60% of it being outdated, which is significantly slowing down the integration of new renewable capacities. The lack of energy storage capacity further increases dependence on electricity imports, which accounted for as much as a quarter of domestic consumption last summer.

Maja Pokrovac, director of RES Croatia, highlighted that increasing battery storage capacity could reduce electricity prices by 25% by 2030, stressing the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a regulatory framework that would enable faster development and deployment of new capacities.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, stated that solar energy currently represents the most affordable energy source in Europe, but its further growth requires development of flexible infrastructure and a significant increase in storage capacity. She emphasized the investment in flexibility as crucial for maintaining Europe's energy competitiveness and price stability, especially in the context of increasing electrification of the economy and society.

Zrinka Ujević, Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia, brought attention to European policies that promote the accelerated development of battery systems and stressed that investments in this technology are essential for achieving climate neutrality in Europe by 2050.

The participants agreed that Croatia has the potential to become a regional leader in the integration of renewable sources and battery energy storage, but this requires a rapid modernization of the transmission and distribution network, as well as legislative adjustments. Panel discussions reflected concrete business models for battery system development, along with examples of best practices from the EU and the United Kingdom. It was emphasized that Southeast Europe, including Croatia, is becoming an increasingly attractive market for battery system investors. However, without a clear regulatory framework and transparent rules, the investments will not materialize at the required pace. It was concluded that system flexibility and battery storage are essential components of the green transition and key to ensuring a stable and secure energy supply in the future.