Battery storage and demand-side management are key to strengthening the electricity grid. At Solar Flex 2026 in Zagreb, investors will discover new opportunities in Croatia and learn how companies can reduce their energy costs.
Last year, SolarPower Europe launched the European “Let’s Flex” campaign to show how renewables can be effectively integrated into the power system. The focus is not only on battery storage but also on demand-side management – adjusting consumption behaviour to better match supply.
A guide for storage investments
On 17 March 2026, the Croatian Renewable Energy Association (OIEH) and SolarPower Europe will bring together the renewables sector to discuss the current landscape for grid flexibility in Croatia. A highlight of the Solar Flex 2026 programme is the presentation of the OIEH’s storage study. These results provide a solid analytical foundation for strategic grid development in Croatia and serve as a practical guide for investors considering storage projects in the country.
Storage in the energy system
Conference participants will gain insights into the latest storage technologies and how they can be systematically integrated into the grid. Through concrete examples, speakers will demonstrate successful applications of different storage technologies. The focus will be on how storage can help manage the variable output from photovoltaics and wind power, including strategies to smooth generation peaks and enhance the reliability of the energy system.
Croatia opens distribution grid to battery storage projects
Demand-side management for grid stability
The third part of the conference will explore how both industrial and residential consumers can add flexibility to their energy use. Speakers will discuss how grid flexibility can be achieved through demand-side management and virtual power plants. They will also address the roles of aggregators, battery systems, heat pumps, microgrids and e-mobility. The session will cover how offering flexible consumption can generate additional revenue or help reduce electricity costs.
The conference will take place on 17 March 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb. The full programme and registration details are available on the OIEH website. (su)
