# Croatia’s coast turns to solar in bid to become energy-sustainable
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-12-12
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Makarska Mayor Plans Solar Energy Solutions to Combat
Meta Description: Discover how the mayor of Makarska plans to make the town energy-sustainable by harnessing solar power, amid a looming energy crisis.
URL: https://financedigest.com/croatias-coast-turns-to-solar-in-bid-to-become-energy-sustainablehtml

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By Daria Sito-Sucic

MAKARSKA, Croatia (Reuters) – As high electricity bills have closed most hotels along Croatia’s Adriatic coast ahead of the winter season, the mayor of the Dalmatian port town of Makarska is making plans to make it energy-sustainable by turning to solar energy sources.

“I think that (the) energy crisis is also an opportunity to speed up our plan for sustainable development in the next 10-15 years, based on solar energy,” Zoran Paunovic told Reuters.

Tourism [officials say that increased electricity prices this year](https://www.financedigest.com/hong-kong-finance-official-to-make-first-visit-to-britain-in-three-years.html "Hong Kong finance official to make first visit to Britain in three years") account for most of the sector’s expenses which are projected to have twice exceeded revenues, and threaten to put in jeopardy the 2023 season.

Tourism [sector accounts for 20% of Croatia’s national output](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-factory-output-posts-biggest-fall-in-8-months-on-weak-autos-chips-sectors.html "Japan’s factory output posts biggest fall in 8 months on weak autos, chips sectors") and has only begun recovering from losses accumulated due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused the [rise of prices across Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-rate-rises-pile-pain-on-sme-firms-in-u-s-and-europe.html "Analysis-Rate rises pile pain on SME firms in U.S. and Europe"), with energy prices sky-rocketing as the European countries struggle to become independent from the Russian energy.

EU member Croatia, which imports up to 40% of its electricity needs, [aims to produce 60% of electric energy](https://www.financedigest.com/varo-energy-buys-80-of-dutch-biogas-firm-aims-to-double-capacity-by-2026.html "Varo Energy buys 80% of Dutch biogas firm; aims to double capacity by 2026") from renewable sources by 2030. It currently produces only 0.5% of electric [power from solar plants](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") despite 2,700 hours of sun estimated on its coast annually.

Under its energy strategy, the government’s environment fund this year issued public calls to public companies, entrepreneurs and citizens to apply for [subsidies to install renewable energy](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-considers-energy-bill-subsidy-for-industrial-firms.html "Britain considers energy bill subsidy for industrial firms") sources for their own consumption.

Makarska, which along with its famous riviera is visited by about 1 million tourists annually, will install by the next summer a [solar power plant at its sports centre and plans more such farms](https://www.financedigest.com/public-power-corp-rwe-to-build-five-solar-farms-in-greece.html "Public Power Corp, RWE to build five solar farms in Greece") that would heat hotels, schools and public institutions, Paunovic said.

Citizens are also encouraged to apply for [subsidies after the government had cut](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-raises-interest-rates-again-cuts-bank-subsidies.html "ECB raises interest rates again, cuts bank subsidies") a 25% value added tax on the import of solar panels, he added.

We are kicking off this [plan now to make Makarska energy-](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-energy-regulator-drops-plan-to-ring-fence-customers-cash.html "UK energy regulator drops plan to ring fence customers’ cash") independent by 2030, to produce our own energy,” Paunovic said. The [electricity prices](https://www.financedigest.com/swedish-energy-minister-need-to-decouple-gas-from-electricity-price.html "Swedish energy minister: need to decouple gas from electricity price") have risen and we have to look for alternative.

Valamar Riviera, Croatia’s largest tourist group which last month closed most of its about 50 hotels and resorts on the coast, has announced that part of its capital [investment of 25.95 million euro](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-merck-to-invest-300-million-euros-in-us-gas-plant.html "Germany’s Merck to invest 300 million euros in US gas plant") ($27.3 million) will go into green construction, the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

($1 = 7.1545 kuna)

($1 = 0.9476 euros)

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by David Evans)


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