MISLIŠTE Ines Ban Kolić

Guest Ines Ban KolićHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026

Ines Ban Kolić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Ines Ban Kolić, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur, has spent her career immersed in the energy sector, always gravitating towards smaller, dynamic firms where she learned every aspect of the business. Her company, Elvirtus, specializes in solar energy solutions, particularly the design and installation of photovoltaic power plants. She saw the shift coming: a regulatory change that would make solar accessible to everyday households and industries alike. This conversation offers a look at how a deep technical background, combined with a keen eye for market and policy shifts, can enable a business to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of the practical economics and ecological benefits driving the transition to solar, and the kind of entrepreneurial foresight it takes to lead it.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Ines Ban Kolić describes her career as always being in "small firms" where she was "everything in the company, from cleaner to director," building on a high school background in electrical engineering. Entrepreneurship isn't always about a sudden leap; it's often the natural progression of a lifelong, hands-on immersion in a specific industry, shaped by family background and constant learning.

She founded Elvirtus after sensing a specific regulatory change would make it easier for individuals to obtain permits for solar installations. The true market signal for a new business isn't just latent demand; it's often a policy shift that removes friction and enables that demand, rewarding those who track legislative currents.

The Jadrangalski laboratorij in Rijeka installed a significant 180-kilowatt solar plant, benefiting from EU funds and national energy efficiency programs. Large-scale adoption often begins when policy, funding, and technology align, creating a clear financial incentive for industrial clients to lead the way.

Elvirtus offers a "turnkey" service, managing everything from initial design and financing to installation and securing the final grid connection permit from HEP. In a complex, regulated industry, the most valuable offering isn't just the product itself; it's the complete navigation of bureaucracy and execution on behalf of the client.

Ines states that solar offers "huge savings," potentially cutting electricity bills by more than half, with even greater benefits for industrial clients facing high tariffs. While environmental benefits are clear, the immediate financial relief is often the primary driver for adoption, making the economic case as important as the ecological one.

The core technical enabler for household solar is the "two-way meter," which replaces the old one-way meter, allowing users to both draw from and feed into the grid. The most effective infrastructure upgrades often aren't new inventions, but subtle changes to existing systems that invert their function to enable new capabilities.

For household solar, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund offers subsidies ranging from 40% to 80% depending on the property's location. Public funding isn't merely a bonus; it's often the critical bridge that makes a high-initial-cost technology accessible to a wider market.

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