Slovenia’s largest solar power plant opened near Hrastnik
STA, 8 April 2022 – On Friday, the state electricity company HSE launched a 3,036-megawatt solar power plant on the rehabilitated and closed part of the Prapretno landfill near Hrastnik. The largest facility of its kind in the country, worth 2.5 million euros, is expected to supply electricity to about 800 households.
A total of 6,748 photovoltaic modules installed at the former degraded site will produce more than 3 GWh of electricity a year, and the plan is to expand to a total installed capacity of 14 megawatts.
HSE said that the launch of a solar power plant in the former coal region is an investment in security of electricity supply, which follows the EU guidelines on reducing carbon emissions.
HTZ, a subsidiary of the Velenje Coal Mine, was engaged in the supply of equipment and the installation and commissioning of the power plant.
The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Janez Janša, who emphasized that after decades of producing electricity, mainly from fossil fuels, Slovenia now has sustainable and green energy sources available.
He added that the state will reimburse the regions where coal was extracted for electricity production from the Fair Transition Fund.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the energy crisis after Russia’s attack on Ukraine had made Slovenia’s funds at home more valuable today than in the past, adding that Slovenia must continue to build small hydro and solar power plants.
HSE Director General Viktor Vračar said that the new plant pursues the goal of secure and reliable electricity supply, adding that international events have forced Slovenia into a strategic restructuring of the energy sector.
The goal is to decarbonise and reduce dependence on foreign energy, which means investment, he said, adding that the ECB estimated that 350 billion euros would be needed for the next decade.
Hrastnik Mayor Marko Funkl added that this month the municipality will establish an energy cooperative for the “transition from brown to green”, which will build the largest cooperative solar power plant in the country.
The 300 KW set will be installed on the roof of the local primary school, Funkl said, adding that “energy is returning to Zasavje in green form.”