DRI set to build third renewable project in Croatia; 120 MW Ljubovo wind farm
DRI, the EU renewables arm of Ukrainian private energy company DTEK, announces it will develop a second wind farm in Croatia, the third project in the country. The Ljubovo onshore wind farm will be located in a designated area for wind power plant installation in Lika-Senj County, central Croatia.
The wind farm will have a capacity of 120MW and an estimated annual production of 349GWh. DRI received preliminary access point to the grid from HOPS, the national Transmission System Operator (TSO) in November 2024 and filed for the energy approval to the Ministry of Economy of Croatia at the end of last year. DRI expects to start construction in 2027.
Ivan Geliukh, CEO of DRI states: “DRI is increasingly playing an active role in Croatia’s energy transition as we will build a third renewable energy project in the country. In addition to contributing to the country’s clean energy targets, the development of the Ljubovo wind farm will showcase DRI’s in-house capabilities in engineering, construction, and operations, leveraging on our expertise in generating value along the supply chain and construction management”.
DRI is currently developing two projects in Croatia: the Brda Umovi wind farm and Vedrine solar park, situated in Split, Dalmatia County. The Brda Umovi wind farm is a dual-phase project with an initial phase that is expecting to generate 127.5MW, and an additional 28.8MW in the second stage, with grid connection in the second half of 2026. In addition to Brda Umovi, DRI in also advancing in development of the Vedrine solar park with installed capacity of 60MWp that is expected to start supplying energy to Croatian communities in the second half of 2027. Both projects will be connected into the TSO’s 400/110 kV substation via a new 10 km 110 kV line to be built by DRI under implementation of Brda Umovi wind farm.
DRI is interested in working with traders and off-takers to develop long-term offtake agreements (PPA) for the sale of electricity as well as participating in the Contract for Difference scheme that will be implemented in Croatia.
Across its priority markets, DRI now boasts a 1.4GW portfolio of operating projects, construction projects and others in various stages of development.