50 NIJANSI ZELENE Zlatko Bukovac, Neven Duić

Guest Zlatko Bukovac, Neven DuićHosted by Julije DomacMay 3, 2026

Zlatko Bukovac, Neven Duić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

When we discuss Europe's energy transition, the conversation often centers on policy ambitions and the scale of the challenge. But a closer look reveals a more complex picture, one where real-world implementation often outpaces rhetoric. This episode brings together two key voices in this space: Professor Neven Duić, a leading academic in energy systems, and Zlatko Bukovac, a veteran entrepreneur in solar energy. They challenge the notion of European primacy in green innovation, pointing instead to unexpected leaders and the strategic economic motivations behind initiatives like the Green Deal. You'll walk away questioning whether the energy transition is primarily an environmental imperative or a critical maneuver for industrial advantage.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte boosted its wind power share from zero to 300% in just four years, becoming a major exporter without system issues. While Europe champions the rhetoric of energy transition, real-world examples from Latin America show implementation can be far more rapid and effective.

Zlatko Bukovac, from his background at an applied institute, emphasizes that collaboration with industry is crucial for scientific institutions in smaller economies. When deep basic science funding is limited, practical, industry-led development becomes the most viable path to innovation, as seen in Soltech's partnerships with universities in Manchester, Nice, and Zagreb.

The European Green Deal is less about environmental policy alone and more about an economic strategy to regain global leadership. Professor Duić highlights that it aims to leverage necessary energy changes to bring back industrial innovation that migrated away from Europe over the past two decades.

Croatia had six photovoltaic module factories 30 years ago, and Europe initially funded the development of solar technology. But when China introduced more efficient production processes, Europe's industry, accustomed to high feed-in tariffs, failed to adapt. Over-reliance on subsidies can make an industry vulnerable to global competition, even after significant initial investment.

While Europe lost its solar manufacturing to China, wind turbines remain a strong European export product. This contrast highlights that successful industrial strategies in green technology require more than just initial investment; they demand a sustainable competitive edge and adaptability beyond subsidies.

Zlatko Bukovac views the Green Deal as a 'compromise solution' and a 'combination of politics and necessity' to reverse the outsourcing of manufacturing that has affected companies like Siemens and Bosch. The initiative is a strategic effort to reclaim industrial capacity and prevent Europe from reaching a point where it can no longer produce essential goods, much like the US experience with iPhone manufacturing.

Statistics show Europe has lost its primacy in innovation investment to countries like China and India. The Green Deal is a direct and deliberate attempt to reverse this trend, aiming to re-establish European leadership in the next wave of industrial and technological advancement.

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