DRI strengthens its presence in Croatia at RES Days 2025

From 21 to 23 May, DRI returned to RES Days in Split, organised by the country’s renewable energy association OIE, joining industry leaders, policymakers, and energy experts to explore the future of renewables and battery storage in Croatia. DRI took part in a panel discussion on the practical steps needed to advance Croatia’s energy independence and hosted a networking reception. DRI je također organizirao posjet predstavnika medija svom projektu Brda Umovi u regiji Dalmacija/Split.

During the panel discussion, moderated by Al Jazeera journalist Saša Ćeramilac, Ivan Liakh, DRI’s Country Director for Croatia, joined fellow energy experts to discuss the regulatory landscape, investor confidence, and the real-world challenges of advancing renewable projects across the country. The panelists agreed that the current main obstacle to investing in the renewable energy sector is the slow and unpredictable administrative process.

“The lack of predictability in regulations and specifically when it comes to the permitting process is one of the main challenges we face in Croatia”, Liakh commented. He however iterated that “like in any countries, challenges are merely issues you need to work through and can overcome by being patient, staying in conversation with all the relevant authorities and relying on a good team on the ground”. Learn more about the panel discussion and key insights from the event here. On the evening of 22 May, DRI hosted a Cocktail Reception for the conference guests, offering space for informal conversations and stronger connections among industry peers.

During the site visit to Brda Umovi, DRI’s most advanced project, a two-phase wind farm of 127.5MW and an additional 28.8MW, Liakh informed journalists about the working of the met mast, the various development stages, including the environmental impact assessment, grid connection permits, and the overall impact of the project - supporting Croatia’s RES goals.

Brda Umovi is part of a growing pipeline of renewable energy projects DRI is advancing in Croatia. Two additional developments are currently underway: the Vedrine solar park (60MW) in Split-Dalmatia and the Ljubovo wind farm (120MW) in Lika-Senj County. Through continued participation in events like RES Days, DRI reinforces its long-term commitment to accelerating the energy transition in Croatia and across the region.

Read more about DRI’s projects in Croatia here.