Current regulations and state investment in the wind power projects

Abstract

It is the objective of this paper to present the path which the wind farm projects have undergone in Croatia from their introduction and expansion since the year 2007 up to the today's date when their development is temporarily stayed. The paper first describes the political and legal framework for renewable energy sources in Croatia, and specifically for wind power plants, as well as the current status of investment in building of wind farms in Croatia. The paper further analyses why the Croatian system of promotion of eligible producers has proven to attract investment, albeit unsustainable for a longer period of time, and which regulatory measures have later contributed to the suspension of wind farm investment in 2014. Legal and factual consequences of such suspension are discussed at the end of the paper, as well as some potential new business models for further exploitation of wind energy in Croatia.

Keywords

• energy law
• renewable energy sources
• wind farms
• eligible producer
• national action plan