Holding Slovenske Elektrarne, the largest producer of electricity from renewable sources in Slovenia, is rapidly moving in the direction of harnessing solar energy to obtain electricity from large solar power plants. In 2022, the largest 3 MW Prapretno Solar Power Plant exceeded its production anticipated in investment documentation by 8 per cent between April (opening of the solar power plant) and December. It produced 3,014.9 MWh of electricity, which suffices for the annual supply of approximately 820 Slovenian households.

HSE has already commenced the construction of the second phase of the Prapretno Solar Power Plant. Procedures for the acquisition of a building permit for Prapretno SPP 2 are currently underway. At the end of 2022, the Municipality of Hrastnik also published the decision on drafting a detailed municipal plan for Prapretno SPP 3 in the Official Gazette of Zasavje. The decision means the start of the activities for changing the use of land on neighbouring land plots of the existing Prapretno SPP, which will enable the acquisition of the building permit.

The construction of the Prapretno Solar Power Plant is fully the result of the knowledge and work of the companies in the HSE Group (HSE, HSE Invest and HTZ). With the completion of all three phases, the potential of the location will be comprehensively utilised for the exploitation of solar energy. Following the construction of Prapretno SPP 2 and 3, the total installed power of all solar power plants of the HSE Group will amount to approximately 9.9 MW. The total power of all solar power plants of the HSE Group will amount to more than 30 MW, which denotes a tenfold increase in the current capacity of Prapretno SPP in two to three years.

Dr Tomaž Štokelj, Director General of HSE, highlights, “The exploitation of solar energy is one of the most important development activities of the HSE Group. Not only the Prapretno Solar Power Plant, but all our future projects are also directed towards the construction of capacities for the production of so-called green power with the objective to make the HSE Group the bearer and herald of the green transition in Slovenia or the Slovenian energy sector.”