In the Cres-Lošinj archipelago, there are currently five non-integrated solar power plants being developed, totalling 22.5 MW. The smallest solar park is being developed by the energy cooperative Apsyrtides. This solar park, Sunčana elektrana Filozići, is currently in the permitting phase. The energy cooperative expects to obtain a building permit by October 2024. The plant will be constructed southwest of the Porozina ferry port, and it is estimated to produce 667 kWh annually. The land has been purchased, and funds have been collected via crowdfunding. Additional funding will need to be requested in the form of a loan once there is more certainty about how the electricity will be sold.
To secure funding, investors require a low-risk, stable income provided by long-term contracts. Investors such as banks typically require that the electricity produced by a future power plant has an agreed fixed price for a set period of time. Public agreements, such as a feed-in premium or a corporate agreement, such as a PPA, are stable tools to secure a loan for the construction of a renewable energy plant.
This report explores three solutions for selling electricity produced by solar power plants on the islands of Cres-Lošinj. Solution 1 covers the possibilities of participating in public tenders launched by HROTE. Solution 2 deals with the possibility of selling electricity on the electricity market. Solution 3 looks at the possibilities of entering into a long-term PPA. This paper analyses the practical implementation and the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.