20.12.2019.
The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund endorsed the European Union Declaration on Clean Energy for EU Islands. “Coastal Croatia has annual solar insolation of up to 2700 hours per year, of which the islands get the most sunny days. We must strongly endorse and develop this solar potential, so the Fund’s national programmes are aimed at investment in projects promoting the use of renewable energy sources,” said Alenka Košiša Čičin Šain, the deputy director, upon signing the declaration.
In Croatia, several islands in their strategic determinants have clearly committed to the use clean energy. The aim of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago is complete decarbonisation of its energy system by 2040. This will partly be achieved by using solar power plants owned by the local community. Krk has prepared its own low-carbon strategy, while the islands in South Dalmatia (Korčula, Lastovo and Mljet) have defined clean energy through the measures in the Sustainable Energy Action Plan and other local development strategies. In addition, some of the first clean energy pilot projects for islands will be implemented on the Croatian islands Cres, Lošinj, Hvar, Brač and Korčula.
“Taking into consideration the specific local characteristics, our islands, with regard to their geographical and climate position, can become the drivers of decarbonisation and use of clean energy. It is green initiatives like this one that will allow their further development, and along with the prevailing tourism activities, open new possibilities for employment and prospering, which is very important to keep the people living on the islands,” said Deputy Director Alenka Košiša Čičin Šain. She also pointed out that the Fund was inviting public calls for co-financing energy efficiency projects in buildings, for cleaner transport, and for smart cities, which were interesting for people living on the islands.