Croatia initiates project to harness solar energy along highways

Croatia’s road management firm, Hrvatske Autoceste, has begun implementing a project to install solar power plants along its highways. The company plans to use the electricity for self-consumption and to supply electric vehicle chargers. This will reduce costs and increase energy independence.

After the tendering procedure, Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) selected ETS Farago to prepare preliminary designs for photovoltaic plants at four locations on the A3 highway. It stretches from the capital Zagreb to the east and the border with Serbia.

The job for the project, covering 36 hectares, should be finished by March 2026. Along with the projects, the selected company is also required to submit an assessment of its advantages and disadvantages.

This will be followed by a techno-economic analysis and, possibly, a tendering for the installation of solar panels. This final step could be expected in 2027.

Slovenia, BiH, Montenegro have initiated similar projects

Of note, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro have initiated similar projects. Roadside locations could be a good solution for solar panels, given that this land is unused and the possible options are limited.

ETS Farago is tasked with preparing three variants for each of the four locations: Zagreb Plitvice (2.5 hectares), Rastovica (3.1 hectares), Sredanci (11 hectares), and Ivanja Reka (18 hectares). The first two are near rest areas, while the other two are at interchanges.

HAC intends to install 259 e-chargers

The first model is the production of electricity for self-consumption, with the surplus fed into the grid. The next option is self-consumption with battery energy storage systems (BESS). The third model is the complete sale of all electricity produced in PV facilities.

The contract is estimated at EUR 11,400 excluding VAT.

HAC previously said that in addition to supplying its own facilities, such as toll booths, traffic maintenance and control Centers (COKP), and street lighting, its solar highways project is key to plans for expanding the electric vehicle infrastructure.

The company intends to install 259 e-chargers on the roads over the next five years.