The workshop on energy communities held in the Town of Korčula raised the question of responsibility for island energy.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Cultural Centre of the Town of Korčula, a workshop was held in the format of a peer-to-peer exchange of experiences between islands and between existing energy communities and initiatives in Croatia. The workshop was held as part of the implementation of the ISLET project.
The first presentation was held by Maja Jurišić, president of the Island Movement, who spoke about the current state of energy communities in Croatia. The laws are changing. The framework agrees. The system is still looking for balance. She especially emphasised the challenge faced by local self-government units in protected areas. There is often a belief that "nothing can be done". That the hands are tied. But the truth is more complicated. There are models through which such areas can also produce their own electricity, respecting nature and the law.
The message: The islands must begin to manage their own properties holistically. Do not just look at the walls and squares. But roofs have potential. Space as an opportunity. Even those who rent houses on the islands and live on the mainland for most of the year can participate in energy sharing models through the energy community.
From olives to megawatts, how a new idea is born
Franjo Toić from the Town of Cres and the Apsyrtides Energy Cooperative began his story with agriculture and olive growing, emphasising that this practice used to be unusual and challenging. Fear of the new, doubt about profitability, all this was present. Today, the olive tree symbolises perseverance and long-term reflection, and Francis has shown that the same principle applies to energy communities.
He offered his help to all those who decide to take this step, with counseling and practical experiences, with the aim of awakening the awareness of citizens and politics about the importance of education, technology, will and money. The key, he emphasised, is to change the individual's thinking. The advantage of islands is a smaller environment, which means that it is easier to raise awareness of the local community than in larger cities, which can make islands leaders in the energy transition.
The idea is that those who produce electricity can consume the same. They found the solution in an energy cooperative, inspired by examples of successful European cities. The name of the cooperative is based on the Greek name for the Cres-Lošinj archipelago. Francis also gave a concrete example: a resident of the island invested in solar panels and shared his experience with friends, who then also decided to invest. That is how the story began, which today brings together the entire community.
Goran Čaćić from the Energy Communities Forum, ZEZ, explained that even if someone cannot set up a power plant on their roof, there is a possibility that together with those who can install larger power plants, they share energy and use it. He also explained that investments in larger power plants connected to the grid bring profit to all members of the community, not just the main investor. The ideal energy community, he said, is a mix of those who can produce electricity and those who want to use it. He said, "Give us the opportunity to show and prove that all this makes sense. That it is profitable and worth investing in and starting."
Ivan Zoković Cola from the Island Movement presented the results of the analysis for Korčula, showing details on electricity consumption and production. The analysis focuses on a higher tariff, an overview of wear at 15-minute intervals and a comparison with possible on-site production. It showed that there is significant scope for new members of the energy community, including schools, associations and other public facilities. Even within smaller islands, annual electricity consumption leaves room for a significant part of the needs to be covered by locally produced energy. He emphasised that this approach enables planning, optimisation, and connection of new users, which opens up a real opportunity for the development of energy self-sufficiency.
The final part of the workshop was reserved for discussion and exchange of experiences. The questions were specific: how to establish an energy community, how to involve citizens, how to finance the first steps, and how to harmonise everything with spatial plans and nature protection.