Croatia: Over 62% of Energy from Renewables in Q1 2026
Share
Renewable energy sources (RES) provided more than 62% of Croatia’s total available electricity during the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest report from the Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia association (OIEH).
The beginning of the year was marked by an increase in electricity consumption, above-average favorable hydrological conditions, and Croatia’s temporary return to net electricity exporter status. Hydropower plants played a key role in this, with production rising by 22.3% compared to the same period last year, thanks to above-average hydrology.
The amount of water available for electricity production was 11.5% above the multi-year average, making the first quarter of 2026 one of the hydrologically above-average, or wetter, periods. Hydropower thus remained the single most significant source of electricity in Croatia’s power system.
At the same time, solar power plants continued their strong growth, increasing production by 50.7% compared to the first quarter of 2025. However, weaker winds led to a 12.8% drop in wind farm production, so other renewable energy sources – wind farms, solar plants, biomass and biogas facilities – produced a total of 1,213 GWh of electricity, which is 4% less than a year earlier.
Despite this decline, other renewable sources produced 33 GWh more electricity than fossil-fuel thermal power plants and as much as 455 GWh more than Croatia’s share of production from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant. Their share of total available energy amounted to 23.3%.
More:
- Serbia Seeks US Partner for PSHP Đerdap 3 Project
- New Study: Every Euro Invested in Wind Energy Returns Seven Euros to the European Economy
- MEMO Brings North Macedonia Closer to the European Guarantees of Origin System
Fossil-fuel thermal power plants took third place in the energy mix with production of 1,180 GWh, representing a 26.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Their share of total available energy was 22.6%.
The Krško Nuclear Power Plant, viewed through Croatia’s 50% share, delivered 758 GWh of electricity, the same as a year earlier, with a 14.5% share of total available energy.
Although Croatia achieved a net export of electricity during the first quarter, a net import was recorded again as early as March, which continued through April and May. OIEH emphasizes that these data confirm the need for further development of renewable energy sources, as well as investments in energy storage systems, in order to increase the country’s energy independence.
A significant step in this direction was made precisely during the first quarter of 2026, when battery energy storage systems were included in Croatia’s power system for the first time. During the observed period, battery storage facilities drew 1,430 MWh of electricity from the grid for charging, while they returned 858 MWh to the grid, i.e., approximately 1 GWh of delivered energy.
Energy portal
