The Dalmatian Energy Agency (DEA), the energy agency of the Croatian county of Split-Dalmatia, was only founded in April 2022. Despite considerable regulatory, financial and bureaucratic hurdles, it has since built up a network of solar systems on public buildings across the county. After systematically mapping more than 300 public facilities and carrying out energy audits, the DEA has so far installed and commissioned 15 systems with a combined capacity of almost 1.2 MW on the roofs of schools, health centres and county buildings.
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Easing the public budget with solar power
The rollout is far from over. The DEA recently put out to tender a further 800 kW of installations, which should bring the county’s total to around 2 MW by the end of the year. The solar power from the DEA’s installations will bring substantial long-term savings for the Split-Dalmatia county budget. Lower electricity bills at public facilities free up money that the county more to spend on other public services.
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Moving into electric mobility
Alongside its solar programme, the DEA is also working on electric mobility. It has now installed a network of 11 smart charging stations for electric vehicles across the county, serving both local residents and visitors during the tourist season.
Building energy sovereignty for Dalmatia
The DEA’s ultimate goal is full independence from fossil fuels, not least to protect people in Dalmatia from volatile energy markets. To this end, it has commissioned an expert study on a self-sufficient power supply system that remains connected to the grid. At its centre is a pilot project combining solar installations with battery storage, with the aim of achieving energy sovereignty for the whole of Dalmatia and its islands. The DEA also plans to set up a regional hydrogen hub. As a first step, it intends to build a green hydrogen filling station in Split, and work on the initial planning documents has already begun.
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More information on the DEA’s plans and projects is available on the agency website. The DEA also offers an online calculator for homeowners and businesses who want to become more independent with a solar system of their own. (su)
