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Slavko Krajcar
Episode · #40

50 NIJANSI ZELENE Slavko Krajcar

Guest Slavko KrajcarHosted by Julije DomacMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Croatia's energy sector has all the ingredients for success: skilled people, a strategic position, and favorable financing. Yet, a pervasive lack of optimism, Professor Slavko Krajcar argues, is holding it back. For a country that pioneered the world's first interconnected AC power system and was an early leader in the European grid, the current hesitation feels like a forgotten legacy. Krajcar, a professor and expert in energy, unpacks this tension. He revisits Croatia's historical innovations, celebrates recent private sector wins in renewables, and points to the untapped potential that still exists. He doesn't shy away from past missteps, but grounds his critique in a firm belief that the country's future in energy can, and should, be brighter. Listen to understand how optimism itself becomes a critical resource in charting an energy future.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Croatia's energy sector possesses all the necessary components for progress — expert talent, favorable economic conditions, and accessible financing — yet, as Professor Krajcar observes, the critical missing resource is a collective optimism. Without belief in the possibility of success, even abundant resources remain untapped.
02
The world's first interconnected alternating current power system wasn't Niagara Falls, but the Krka river feeding Šibenik. This historical fact, and Croatia's early role in establishing the European power grid, shows that the country's current challenges are not due to a lack of capability, but perhaps a forgotten pioneering spirit.
03
Croatia is nearing 700 megawatts of wind power capacity, a substantial achievement that often goes unacknowledged amid broader complaints. The real story isn't the difficulty of reaching this milestone, but the quiet, persistent progress being made despite the prevailing mood.
04
Of Croatia's almost 700 megawatts of wind power, none initially came from the state-owned power company, HEP. This demonstrates how private enterprise can drive significant sectoral growth, creating a dynamic balance and competitive thrust that was once thought exclusive to state utilities.
05
Croatia's 2009 energy strategy included a modest 50 megawatts for solar, a figure set when panel costs were much higher. The real missed opportunity, Krajcar points out, was the failure to adjust policy in time as prices plummeted, preventing the market from opening more seriously and hindering earlier solar adoption.
06
Local entrepreneurs often shoulder the initial "nervousness" and risk of developing energy projects in Croatia. While many ultimately sell their projects to foreign funds, Krajcar emphasizes pride in those who persevered through development, recognizing their essential role despite the eventual change in ownership.
07
While headlines might focus on state-backed solar projects like HEP's 5-6 megawatt plant on Cres, Professor Krajcar highlights that numerous private developers are actively working on multiple larger projects in Croatia, some exceeding 10 megawatts and even reaching 50 megawatts. The full scope of progress often lies in these less publicized private initiatives.
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