Next week, the DAYS OF THE SUN conference

We are only seven days away from the international conference DAYS OF THE SUN 2023 in Bol on Brač! The sponsors of this event dedicated to the development of solar energy projects are the European Commission, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, SolarPower Europe, the Ministry of Regional Development and Funds of the European Union, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and State Property, the Ministry of Agriculture, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. In addition to the 400 registered participants, we are looking for one more place to monitor the program, which includes more than 60 lecturers and panelists. You still have time to join and be part of the conference on May 25 and 26, and see how to register here HERE.

Patrons, partners, numerous sponsors and great interest in participating in the conference confirm that the use of solar energy is the most important topic for achieving energy independence faster. Croatia and neighboring countries have great potential for using solar energy. In fact, the untapped solar potential in this region is among the best in Europe! However, the share of realized solar plants in Croatia is still below one percent. The European Union’s goal of achieving 45 percent renewable energy by 2030 will result in a significant increase in solar projects. However, it is critical to implement measures that ensure that growth can happen, such as resilient power grids, streamlined licensing, a skilled workforce, resilient supply chains and a stable regulatory environment that can attract investors.

How to change everything that is necessary to speed up and strengthen the development of solar projects in accordance with the set national and European goals? This is just one of the issues that will be discussed at the DAYS OF THE SUN conference. How much contribution can agrosolar power plants make in achieving energy independence and how can they help agriculture in mitigating the consequences of climate change is a topic to which the conference gives special importance, and after the panel on agrosolar power plants for agricultural and energy production, an expert round table was organized for additional education and all questions that farmers want to ask about this topic.

Solar energy has great potential for the development of energy, but also the economy, it helps decarbonization and reducing dependence on energy imports. Although its development in Croatia is slower than expected, the number of solar power plants on the roofs of households and companies is increasing day by day. To achieve energy independence by 2030, we need about 2,500 MW of solar power plants that could produce 3 TWh of electricity annually.

The European Commission advocates the development of special “Go-to” areas in which the issuance of permits for RES projects will be completed within a year, and this is one of the topics of the conference. Mapping of these areas for Croatia has been started by OIEH and he will speak about it on the panel. All financial institutions in Croatia are ready to support the financing of large and small RES projects, but in terms of the number of investments, large ones such as the EBRD and the EIB stand out, which will present their experience in financing solar projects in Croatia and the region.

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In the European Union, almost 66 percent of electricity from solar power plants was produced at the point of consumption, which confirms that this sector makes a significant contribution to the development of solar energy projects. That is why the development of solar installations at the point of consumption is another topic of the conference.

An important part of the conference is devoted to energy challenges in industry. Namely, the industrial and entrepreneurial sector suffered the heaviest impact of the energy crisis last year and is increasingly turning to the purchase of green energy through PPA contracts – long-term contracts for the procurement of renewable energy directly from producers. These contracts, the EU claims, play a key role in the development of renewable megawatts and new RES projects. In addition, they help industry meet climate goals and achieve carbon neutrality. You will find out how they are prepared and what benefits they bring at DAYS OF THE SUN.

The development of solar energy will also require the accelerated connection of new power plants to the grid and the development of network capacities ready for their connection. Whether and to what extent Croatia and the countries in the region are ready for the accelerated development of RES projects will be told by the participants of the panel on the regional development of solar energy coming from Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia.

The implementation of battery energy storage systems, which can help eliminate numerous problems with produced excess energy, will certainly help in the faster development of solar projects. How important is the role of energy storage in the energy transition and how hybrid systems can participate in solar power plant projects are questions to which we will hear answers at the conference.

And in the end, everyone should benefit from green energy, and citizens should have information about how they can get involved in the energy transition and what benefits it brings them. They have been actively working for a long time to establish independent energy communities and devise ways to power their homes with green, clean and cheaper energy. Successful energy communities from Croatia, the region and Europe will share inspiring stories about their activities at the conference.

Source: OIE Croatia