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Description
With the project, member companies of the Supernova Group plan to implement three pilot projects for the construction of integrated photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of shopping centres in Sisak. The project partnership consists of Supernova projekti, which will be in charge of project management and project results, partners Supernova Sisak East and Supernova Sisak West, which own the centres where the power plants will be installed, and Åpenhet as a partner from the donor country (Norway).
Shopping centres are observing increasing energy needs, with rising energy costs negatively affecting business and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Guided by the principles of sustainable growth and responsible management, the project partners want to increase the share of RES in total energy consumption by replacing conventional fuels used with more sustainable renewable solar energy.
The project plans the construction of three integrated photovoltaic power plants, SE Sisak East and SE-1 Sisak West and SE-2 Sisak West with a total installed capacity of 722,42 kWp, which will produce 751.224 kWh / year. The project contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the amount of 119,14 tCO2 / year.
This will lead to the achievement of the specific objecive of the project: "Increasing the installed capacity for energy production from renewable sources in Supernova shopping centres." Achieving the specific goal will contribute to the achievement of the general objective “Contribution to increasing the installed capacity of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Croatia and strengthening the capacity for management and promotion of renewable energy sources”. One of the objectives of the project is to promote the use of RES in the trade sector in order to reduce GHG emissions, increase security of supply and contribute to the European Green Deal.
The target groups of the project are the companies themselves, their employees and clients.
Summary of project results
With this project, member companies of the Supernova group planned the implementation of three pilot projects for the construction of integrated photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of shopping centers in Sisak. The project promoter was the company Supernova projekti Llc, which was in charge of overall project management and achievement of project results, and the partners Supernova Sisak East and Supernova Sisak West that are the owners of the shopping centers where the power plants are installed. The Åpenhet company participated in the project as a partner from the donor country (Norway) in order to exchange knowledge, successfully implement the project, disseminate project results and increase bilateral cooperation. The target groups of the project were the companies themselves, their employees and clients.
The project included shopping centers Sisak East and Sisak West that are constantly recording an increasing need for energy, with the increasing cost of energy having a negative effect on business operations and on the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. Guided by the fundamental principles of sustainable growth and responsible energy management, the project promoter and partners wanted to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in total energy consumption, which implies replacing environmentally unfavorable fuels used for heating and cooling the building (fossil fuels and energy from the grid), with more environmentally friendly electricity generated from solar energy. Also, one of the project''s objectives was to promote the use of RES in the trade sector in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase security of supply and contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal. The project thus addressed the problems of trade centers related to rising energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions and low use of renewable energy sources in the service sector.
The implementation of project activities contributed to the achievement of direct and indirect project results:
- Increased energy production from renewable sources
- Three PV power plants installed to increase the installed capacity of renewable energy sources (solar)
- Strengthened capacities for management and promotion renewable energy
- Increased cooperation between entities in the beneficiary country and donor countries
The key activities of the project related to the construction of 3 photovoltaic power plants SE Sisak East, SE-1 Sisak West and SE-2 Sisak West, as well as the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and the dissemination of project results.
The construction of photovoltaic power plants referred to the construction of integrated solar photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of shopping centers in Sisak, and included the installation of photovoltaic panels that were mounted on a suitable supporting metal substructure on which inverters, connecting cables, low-voltage switchgear and associated cabinets were installed. Based on the installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants and data on latitude and longitude, altitude, annual atmospheric energy of the sun and average annual temperature, a budget was made for the expected annual production of electricity, which is 760.84 MWh/year. In line with the energy savings achieved, the activities also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the amount of 120.67t CO2/year. Annually, the electricity consumption for the operation of shopping centers amounts to approximately 1140 MWh/year of energy, with all energy currently being taken from the distribution network.
In addition, the Project established bilateral cooperation with the project partner from the donor country, the company Åpenhet. The partner was a Norwegian technology company based in Oslo specializing in good governance and data-driven policymaking. This partnership contributed to strengthening the capacity for governance and promoting renewable energy, disseminating knowledge and strengthening bilateral cooperation. As a partner from the donor country, Åpenhet was actively involved in the implementation of the project, and its activities contributed to the successful implementation of the project and the achievement of its objectives. Activities included organizing a conference on the application of solar energy in service industries, knowledge exchange between Croatia and Norway in the field of solar energy, regular monthly coordination meetings of the project team, implementation of communication and promotional activities, and encouraging dialogue between governments, researchers and stakeholders, as well as participation in in the preparation of project documentation and monitoring of project implementation. As part of the project, an analysis of the legislative framework in Croatia and Norway was also conducted, in which members of the donor partner''s team participated and brought Norwegian experiences and knowledge closer to Croatia. Finally, the partner also participated in a study trip to Croatia in for the purpose of knowledge exchange and as part of the final conference organized by the project promoter.
The project has achieved all the expected results, where the indicators of annual energy production, reduction of CO2 emissions and installed capacities for solar energy production have recorded minor positive deviations as a result of the increase in the installed power of power plants. Specifically, the project realized three pilot projects for the construction of photovoltaic power plants SE Sisak East and SE-1 Sisak West and SE-2 Sisak West with a total installed capacity of 0.7317 MW, which will result in the annual production of energy from renewable sources by 760.84 MWh and reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions by 120.67 tons of CO2. Through the project, two knowledge dissemination workshops and a study trip to Croatia by the Norwegian partner were held, all with the aim of strengthening capacities for management and promotion of renewable energy sources.
The results of the project are also the trigger for the green transition of Supernova shopping centers in the form of reducing the negative impact of the centers'' operations on the environment. The successful realization and achievement of the expected results of the project also results in the replication of the pilot project at other Supernova shopping centers in Croatia and more widely in the countries of the region. Furthermore, in accordance with the energy policy of the Republic of Croatia and the EU, the investment has contributed to the energy independence of the Republic of Croatia and the competitiveness of the energy system.
The project also has a positive impact on the business of the companies themselves. The drastic increase in the price of electricity and the expected increase in energy prices in the next 10 years represent a long-term risk to business. Construction own photovoltaic power plants will have a positive impact on reducing operating costs due to reduced energy costs and improve the company''s business results. Reducing operating costs will open up space for savings to be passed on to tenants of commercial space in shopping centers, thus demonstrating added value for the investment.
Summary of bilateral results
As a partner from the donor country, Åpenhet was actively involved in the implementation of the project, and its activities contributed to the successful implementation of the project and the achievement of its objectives. Activities included organizing a conference on the application of solar energy in service industries, exchanging knowledge between Croatia and Norway in the field of solar energy, regular monthly coordination meetings of the project team, implementing communication and promotional activities and encouraging dialogue between governments, researchers and stakeholders, as well as participating in the preparation of project documentation and monitoring the implementation of the project. As part of the project, an analysis of the legislative framework in Croatia and Norway was also conducted, in which members of the donor partner team participated and brought Norwegian experiences and knowledge closer to Croatia. Finally, the partner also participated in a study trip to Croatia for the purpose of knowledge exchange and as part of the final conference organized by the Applicant.Given the differences in administrative documentation and forms between Croatia and the donor country, certain challenges arose at the beginning of the project implementation in collecting the necessary documentation. However, everything was successfully resolved with the assistance of the implementing body.