MAKARSKA, Croatia, Dec 12 (Reuters) – As excessive electrical energy payments shut down most motels on Croatia’s Adriatic coast forward of the winter season, the mayor of the Dalmatian port metropolis of Makarska plans to it’s power sustainable by switching to photo voltaic. power supply.
“I believe that (the) power disaster can be a possibility to hurry up our plan for sustainable improvement within the subsequent 10-15 years, primarily based on photo voltaic power,” Zoran Paunovic instructed Reuters.
Tourism officers say that the rise in electrical energy costs this 12 months has prompted many of the bills within the sector which are anticipated to double the revenues, and threatens to place the 2023 season in jeopardy.
The tourism sector accounts for 20% of Croatia’s nationwide output and has solely simply begun to get better from losses accrued because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Russia’s assault on Ukraine has prompted costs to rise throughout Europe, with power costs skyrocketing as European international locations wrestle to change into unbiased from Russian power.
EU member Croatia, which imports as much as 40% of its electrical energy wants, goals to supply 60% of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030. It at present produces solely 0.5 % electrical energy from photo voltaic crops regardless of the two,700 hours of daylight estimated at its coast. yearly.
Underneath its power technique, the federal government’s environmental fund this 12 months issued public calls to public corporations, entrepreneurs and residents to use for subsidies to put in sources of renewable power. power for their very own consumption.
Makarska, which along with its well-known riviera is visited by about 1 million vacationers yearly, will set up subsequent summer season a solar energy plant in its sports activities middle and plans a number of farms that can warmth the motels, colleges and public establishments, mentioned Paunovic.
Residents are additionally inspired to use for subsidies after the federal government reduce the 25% value-added tax on the import of photo voltaic panels, he added.
“We’ve got began this plan now to make Makarska energy- unbiased by 2030, to supply our personal power,” mentioned Paunovic. “Electrical energy costs have elevated and we should search for an alternate.”
Valamar Riviera, Croatia’s largest vacationer group that final month closed most of its 50 seaside motels and resorts, introduced that a part of the capital funding of 25.95 million euros ($27.3 million) will go to inexperienced development, the usage of renewable power. supply and power effectivity.
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Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Modifying by David Evans
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