wpd and Danske Commodities sign Croatia’s first commercial PPA
Press release | Aarhus, Denmark - 16.12.2021
Energy project developer and operator wpd and energy trader Danske Commodities announced today that they have signed a fixed-price PPA for the Orlice Wind Farm in Croatia. The deal is the very first post feed-in PPA to be consumed in Croatia between two non-state market participants and marks a new chapter in the energy transition of the Balkans.
Under the agreement, Danske Commodities will be responsible for the trading and balancing of 9.6 MW capacity installed in Orlice, which is owned by wpd, the internationally experienced project developer and operator of wind and solar projects.
Orlice is an onshore wind farm in Croatia, located near the City of Šibenik and supplying more than 5,000 households with sustainable energy. It was developed in 2009 by wpd, and the company has now signed the first agreement for Orlice with a commercial offtaker.
“The PPA we signed today marks the beginning of our cooperation with Danske Commodities in Croatia, but is also a significant signal for the development of the energy market in the region. Just as wpd was among the first wind farm developers in Croatia, we are now pioneering a PPA with another non-state market participant immediately after the expiry of the original feed-in tariff agreement concluded with the Croatian state market operator for the Orlice project. We are very pleased that a renowned company like Danske Commodities has recognized the potential of cooperation with wpd in Croatia. ”, said Zoran Obradović, managing director of wpd Adria.
The energy transition is gaining momentum across Europe, creating new opportunities for the Balkan energy market. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that Croatia intends to lower carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and to abandon the use of coal by 2033. The country is targeting a 39% share of renewables in final energy consumption in 2030, while the EU is aiming for 32%.
“Danske Commodities has traded energy in Croatia for more than 10 years and has been part of the country’s transition towards a greener economy. Now, Croatia is increasing its green ambitions, which means even more renewable energy will be needed. With this first commercial PPA signed, we hope to expand the development of renewables by strengthening the investment climate for future energy projects – and to set a standard for more deals to be made across the Balkan region,” said Tor Mosegaard, Head of European Power Trading at Danske Commodities.
Facts about the PPA
- Asset: Orlice Wind Farm
- Location: Šibenik, Croatia
- Capacity: 9.6 MW
About wpd
wpd develops and operates onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks, and is actively engaged in 28 countries around the world; the head office is in Bremen. The German company has already realized wind energy projects with around 2,400 wind turbines and an output of 5,150 MW, and is planning further projects with a total of 12,300 MW onshore, 13,800 MW offshore and 1,650 MWp solar energy.
About Danske Commodities
Danske Commodities is an energy trading company that specialises in short-term power and gas trading and offers balancing, optimisation and hedging services to energy producers and suppliers. Every day, the company completes more than 8,500 trades across 39 countries, constantly moving energy from where there is more than needed to where it is needed most. Danske Commodities is a wholly-owned subsidiary to Norwegian energy company Equinor, operating under its own name and brand.
