The Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ) in Croatia has recently introduced an innovative financing approach for new rooftop solar installations. Through its collective procurement program, ZEZ offers significant cost savings, a streamlined installation process, and support for homeowners and small businesses looking to embrace sustainable energy solutions. 

Read the full interview with Goran Čačić, Senior project manager and president of the Assembly at ZEZ, to learn more about this approach and ZEZ’s future plans for community energy sharing.

  • Could you outline the key details of the project?

ZEZ’s  collective procurement program simplifies the installation of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) power plants for individual homeowners and small enterprises. By negotiating bulk purchases, the program reduces costs while ensuring high-quality installations.

  • How is the financing structured?

The program organises three to four procurement rounds per year, offering savings up to 20% on PV panels and 15% on inverters. Installation costs are fixed, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. Additionally, ZEZ has partnered with ERSTE bank to offer a 0.3% interest rate discount on loans for participants needing external financing for the PV installation. 

  • Where does the financing come from, and who are the main players involved?

Rather than directly securing financing, this scheme  focuses on reducing costs for end users. Given thatCroatia’s energy community market is still in its early stages, a full-fledged Community energy Financing Scheme (CEFS) could not yet be deployed. 

ZEZ’s  current collective procurement scheme aligns with national funding opportunities, such as  grants from the Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency (EPEEF), which regularly publishes calls for co-financing PV systems. In parallel, ZEZ is working closely with EPEEF to develop and implement a dedicated r CEFS tailored to Croatia’s evolving market.

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  • How long does the process take from application to receiving funds?

The process begins with interested participants submitting details about their location and roof. ZEZ then prepares the technical design and grid connection documentation and assists with applying for national grants.  Once the proposal is accepted, ZEZ coordinates the installation with its installation partners. In optimal conditions, the entire process takes two to three months, but the timeline may vary depending on subsidy application deadlines. 

  • What is the ultimate goal of the fund?

Beyond making solar installations more accessible, ZEZ is committed to educating communities, individual houseowners and building owners about sustainable energy solutions and empowering citizens to take control of their energy future.

Looking ahead, Croatia is expected to phase out net metering by 2026. At that point, homeowners with PV installations could benefit more from energy sharing within  energy communities, rather than selling excess electricity back to the suppliers. ZEZ is already preparing for this transition by developing solutions to support community-based energy sharing in the near future.