A two-day Energy Academy was held on Korčula, organised by the Island Movement and the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat. During the event, participants had the opportunity to learn more about the possibilities and benefits of using renewable energy, with an emphasis on the sustainable development of the Croatian islands.
During the first day, Antonia Proka from the Secretariat introduced the participants to Phase II of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat, whilst Maja Pokrovac, Director of Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia (Obnovljivi izvori energije, OIE Hrvatska) talked about the national and European recovery and resilience plans.
"The European efforts to support the energy transition of the islands came together in 2017 with a declaration signed in Malta, which launched the Clean Energy for European Islands Initiative. A year later, The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat was established", Antonia Proka said in her opening statement. Following the establishment of the Secretariat, five island forums were held, one of them jointly hosted by Split and Hvar in 2019. Phase II of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat began last year.
THE CLEAN ENERGY FOR EU ISLANDS SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat supports a bottom-up approach and provides expert technical, legal, and educational assistance in the planning and implementation of transition plans. It strengthens island communities because "involving and enabling local communities is key to energy transition", said Antonia, pointing out that in Phase II the Secretariat is already involved with 40 projects, three of which are on Croatian islands, in the Cres-Lošinj and Elaphites archipelagos and on Dugi Otok. "The second open call for project assistance will start in February 2022", Antonia announced.
In the educational sense, the Secretariat applies the "train the trainer" approach and directs local community stakeholders to green transition plans and strategies. "We contribute by teaching and forming local transition leaders and helping them accelerate the energy transition in their communities".
Green transition implies decarbonisation of the energy sector through investments in renewable energy, the development of new technologies, and improved energy efficiency in all sectors.
To help projects seeking funding, but also investors seeking investment projects, the Island Marketplace platform has been set up, connecting clean energy projects on EU islands, investors, and providers of technological solutions.
Projects of interest for achieving the common goal of climate neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the Green Plan, concern solar energy, hydropower, green transport, energy distribution and management, and energy sustainability and self-sufficiency.
FRAMEWORK FOR THE ISLANDS' ENERGY TRANSITION
Maja Pokrovac, Director of RES, spoke about the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Nacionalni plan oporavka i otpornosti, NPOO) and the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Croatia will receive 6.3 billion euros from the RRF, for which it has prepared the NPOO 2021-2026 containing 77 reforms and 152 investments. "According to the Plan, 37% of the funds will go to green transition, and 20% to digital transition," said Pokrovac, adding that "if there are no projects, the funds will not be used, so you have to consider this and design projects in your local communities, within the funding framework".
According to the NPOO, 660 million euros are earmarked for investments in the energy sector and RES projects dealing with the development of electricity infrastructure, improvement of transport systems, development of infrastructure for renewable hydrogen production, increasing the rate of energy renovation of buildings in Croatia and development of sustainable tourism.
It is important to support the green transition of all sectors, including agriculture. Thus, part of the funds should be directed to RES technologies used in food production and invested in energy efficiency in the industry. The large investment in technology that is required for using RES presents an obstacle for farmers, "which is why a tender for grants for RES investments in agriculture would be very effective," Pokrovac thinks. This would provide farmers with incentives to build photovoltaic and biogas plants and thus contribute to reducing CO2 and CH4 emissions.
THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLANDS
"Islands have been recognised as ideal places that can lead the transition to clean energy and the development of a sustainable society", Pokrovac claims.
The National Plan for Island Development 2021-2027 brings together goals, priorities, measures, and projects for the development of island communities, with the emphasis on transport connections, community infrastructure (water supply and drainage), and the difference in prices on the mainland and the islands. Some projects are already being implemented on our islands, such as the INSULAE project, which seeks to develop innovative solutions for the decarbonisation of European islands. Its activities are focused on the islands of Unije (Croatia), Bornholm (Denmark) and Madeira (Portugal).
A project for the construction of a ground-based PV power plant with a capacity of up to 1 MW has been launched on Unije, in cooperation with the Croatian national energy company (HEP), which will include a battery system for storing the energy produced and will largely fulfill the island's year-round electricity needs. The installation of a solar power plant and a battery bank on Unije is one of the first such projects in the Republic of Croatia, which was made possible by the inhabitants of the island of Unije in cooperation with representatives of science, economy, and local government.
For energy storage in isolated locations, e.g. islands or mountains, battery systems bring multiple benefits and savings, so experts from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture in Split have developed battery systems that could power ships along the coast in the future, reduce electricity costs in the industry and ensure a stable electricity supply for the islanders.
In addition to wind farms, solar panels, and hydrogen, we also have the possible production of energy from the sea using waves, tides, and heat pumps with seawater. The latter (SWHP systems) could be particularly suitable in Croatia due to its long coastline. This technology is already being used in Poreč.
Regarding the transformation of waste into hydrogen using solar energy, a pilot project is underway on Cres. Following transformation, hydrogen should be used for the needs of industry, transport, and the production of clean energy.
PRESENTATION OF THE NEW ELECTRICITY MARKET ACT AND FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND
The first presentation was given by the Director of the Directorate for Energy at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Kristina Čelić. Čelić presented the new Electricity Market Act, which came into force at midnight that very day. "The law is written in a way that encourages citizens to get involved in energy-related matters and allows them to set up supply and consumption systems independently."
She explained that citizens will be able to create initiatives according to their business model, so that those who do not have the opportunity to install solar panels on their roof, or those who live in residential buildings, will be able to get involved in electricity production.
Aleksandar Halavanja, head of the Systematic Energy Management at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, gave a very engaging presentation, emphasising that he came to the island to gather as much information as possible about the needs of islands and islanders to implement energy transition. "The Fund is preparing a tender with resources intended exclusively for the needs of islands. Although it is being announced at the end of the year, if the funds are not spent, they will spill over into 2022, so I call on the islanders to prepare projects for energy transition and be ready for the next tenders."
ROUND TABLE: THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS IN THE ISLAND ENERGY TRANSITION
As part of the workshop, a round table was held on the role of various economic sectors in the island energy transition. The moderator of the conversation, Maja Jurišić, the President of the Island Movement, learned from the participants how to integrate the green transition and energy usage in general into everything that the islanders need.
Katarina Slejko from the Local Action Group LAG 5 explained that the interest of islanders in tenders and obtaining funds exists and is growing. Projects involving the introduction of renewable energy sources carry more weight, but she admitted that "the administrative part of tender applications is quite demanding" and added that "the slowness of the administration, waiting for results, filing of complaints, waiting for answers to complaints, and a combination of high demand and low supply of consulting services cause a loss of motivation in people”.
Vlaho Komparak, the owner of the Komparak family farm, agrees that waiting for documents and responses is a big problem, as well as difficulties with pre-financing projects and making agreements with banks. In his next project, Komparak will also include renewable energy sources, specifically solar panels. "In the last LAG competition, I had the maximum number of points precisely because I included solar on which 15,000 euros will be spent out of the total amount", Komparak announced.
Sharing the point of view of a private tenant in the process of installing solar panels on a roof on Silba, Paula Bolfan claimed that "the return on investment can be expected in a few years". There are many layers of the energy transition, so local governments must show interest in energy sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Bolfan commented on the unequal pressure on the island's capacities during and outside the tourist season, which has an extremely unfavourable effect on the infrastructure of small communities and islands. Taking Silba as an example, she warned of frequent power cuts during the season, which could become even more common once a desalination plant without an integrated photovoltaic system is built. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb, in cooperation with the Island Movement, prepared a feasibility study for the construction of a desalination plant in combination with a photovoltaic power plant.
We still need to work on engaging the local community, "which is why events like these are crucial, we need to talk and spread ideas, something that the Island Movement is actively working on", Bolfan said. Marko Šundov, a representative of the Clean Croatia association, agrees that there is still work to be done to raise awareness, pointing out the problem of waste. As for the burning issue of waste disposal, Šundov said that "there is no ideal solution for waste management, but unplanned waste management reduces the potential of an area, which is particularly relevant on the islands".
Antonia Proka from the Secretariat closed the event and stressed that she was very pleased with the feedback from islanders and the implementation of the transition agendas and that the Secretariat will continue to help and support islanders in terms of providing technical support for the energy transition process.
The recording is available on the Facebook page of the Island Movement. Find the first part of the recording of day one here and part two here. Watch the recording of day two here.