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Petrolova strategija energetske tranzicije predvideva investicije v proizvodnjo elektrike iz obnovljivih virov sonca, vetra in vode. Tako trenutno gradimo naš največji sklop sončnih elektrarn na Hrvaškem.

Pomen obnovljivih virov energije

Obnovljivi viri so bili pretekla leta del javnega diskurza prvenstveno zaradi okoljskih izzivov in težnje po zmanjšanju izpustov toplogrednih plinov, z drugimi besedami, podnebnih politik, v zadnjem času pa se jih izpostavlja še v luči aktualnih razmer, kot so svetovna energetska kriza in zagotavljanje varne, zanesljive oskrbe z električno energijo. Vse bolj prihaja v ospredje tudi večja konkurenčnost, ki pride z lastno proizvodnjo, saj ob manjši odvisnosti od uvoza oziroma nakupa prinaša nižje stroške in manjša tveganja glede dobave ter volatilnosti cen.

Energetska kriza je močno pospešila proizvodnjo elektrike iz obnovljivih virov.

Trend proizvodnje električne energije iz sončnih elektrarn zelo hitro raste po celem svetu. Fatih Birol, direktor Mednarodne agencije za energijo IEA, je že pred leti poudarjal, da bi sončna energija lahko postala "nova kraljica svetovnih trgov z električno energijo". Nedavno pa je ob poročilu IEA izpostavil, da je kriza dala močan pospešek čistim virom energije, vlaganja so po letih počasne rasti poskočila, zato predvideva, da bodo sončne elektrarne do leta 2027 postale prvi vir elektrike.

Po ambicioznih ocenah Evropske unije pa naj bi do leta 2050 kar 48 odstotkov vse evropske energije bilo proizvedene iz sončnih elektrarn. Če kdaj, je sedaj obdobje, ko Evropska unija intenzivno išče nove načine zagotavljanja energetske varnosti. Pri tem lahko bistveno pomagajo energetska podjetja, kot je Petrol, ki z vlaganjem v nove proizvodne objekte, kot so vetrne in sončne elektrarne, prispevamo k večji energetski neodvisnosti. Sončno energijo "kot kraljico svetovnih trgov z električno energijo" v svoji strategiji prepoznavamo tudi v Petrolu, kjer smo se energetske tranzicije postopoma lotili že pred leti. 

Petrol v okviru energetske tranzicije investira v elektrarne iz obnovljivih virov ter prispeva k zanesljivejši oskrbi z energijo.

Danes tako v okviru skupine Petrol v regiji obratujeta že dve vetrni polji s skupaj 18 vetrnimi elektrarnami na Hrvaškem, pet malih hidroelektrarn v Bosni in ena v Srbiji ter 30 manjših sončnih elektrarn na različnih objektih v Sloveniji. Ocenjena proizvodnja v teh lastnih elektrarnah za 2022 je do 170 GWh, kar zadošča za kar 50.000 povprečnih gospodinjstev (kar je na primer kot skoraj vseh prebivalcev Maribora).

Petrol kot partner v zelenem prehodu in razvijalec obnovljivih virov v regiji

Pri Petrolovi odločitvi, da postane sodobna trajnostno naravnana energetska družba, ima posebno strateško mesto proizvodnja elektrike iz obnovljivih virov, kar je ena ključnih aktivnosti za prihodnji razvoj skupine Petrol. Naša zaveza prehodu na zeleno energijo pomeni, da bo skupina Petrol v strateškem obdobju 2021 – 2025 za naložbe v energetsko tranzicijo namenila več kot tretjino skupnega investicijskega potenciala, od tega največji del za investicije v pridobivanje energije iz obnovljivih virov.

Zanesljiva in cenovno dostopna oskrba z energijo je pomembna za vse, za gospodinjstva, podjetja in javne ustanove.

Prvo lastno sončno elektrarno smo postavili že leta 2008, in sicer na prodajnem mestu Koper v sklopu novogradnje Bencinskega servisa Koper. V naslednjih letih smo dodali sončne elektrarne še na dodatnih prodajnih mestih in drugih Petrolovih objektih, kot na primer na zaokroženem gospodarskem območju Železarne Ravne, kjer smo na strehah svojih objektov postavili dve mali fotonapetostni napravi skupne moči 263 kW.

Vse se začne z izborom lokacije

Odločitev za tip sončne elektrarne je odvisna od vrste lokacije in objekta. Na objektih recimo nameščamo manjše sončne elektrarne, ki se priključijo direktno na omrežje objekta in lahko prispevajo k vsaj delni samooskrbi tega objekta. Degradirana in drugače nefunkcionalna območja pa so primerna za velike elektrarne, ki se priklopijo na večje energetske vode, zato je pomembna ustrezna infrastruktura v bližini.

Spomladi 2022 smo blizu Knina pričeli z gradnjo sklopa treh svojih največjih sončnih elektrarn do sedaj. Zanje smo izbrali lokacijo nad Jadransko obalo – območja, ki so kamnita in nerodovitna, a bogata s sončnimi dnevi. Ker so nefunkcionalna in v bližini ustrezne elektro infrastrukture, so več kot primerna za postavitev sončnih elektrarn, ki imajo minimalne vplive na okolje.

Gradimo na lokacijah, kjer je možno ekonomsko učinkovito in okolju neškodljivo izkoristiti energetski potencial obnovljivih virov.

Novo nastajajoča polja sončnih elektrarn na Hrvaškem

Zakaj ravno lokacije na Hrvaškem? Skupina Petrol deluje v regiji, kjer Hrvaška predstavlja naš drugi najpomembnejši trg, tako z vidika osrednje dejavnosti oskrbe z energenti in gorivi, kot tudi prihodnjega posla.

Projekt ene največjih sončnih elektrarn v regiji sestavljajo tri ločene sončne elektrarne: Suknovci z 10 MW inštalirane moči, Pliskovo s 6,3 MW inštalirane moči in Vrbnik s 5,7 MW inštalirane moči, torej skupne inštalirane moči 22 MW ter s pričakovano letno proizvodnjo električne energije v višini 29 GWh. Vse se nahajajo na področju Šibeniško-kninske županije na Hrvaškem, v medsebojni razdalji 5,7 oziroma 6 km. Skupaj bo postavljenih 40.100 sončnih panelov, ki bodo ustvarili dovolj zelene elektrike za kar 8.500 gospodinjstev – oziroma za vse prebivalce Ptuja. S proizvodnjo elektrike bodo pričele predvidoma do spomladi 2023.

Petrol je spomladi 2022 blizu Knina pričel z gradnjo sklopa treh svojih največjih sončnih elektrarn do sedaj.

Posebnost procesa gradnje: montaža brez betoniranja

Prednost Petrolovih novo nastajajočih sončnih elektrarn je predvsem, da minimalno posegajo v okolje, tako v času gradnje, kot v času samega delovanja.

S ciljem čim manjših posegov v okolje je podkonstrukcija sončnih elektrarn pritrjena na temelje, ki se vijačijo v zemljo brez betonske ojačitve in jo je zato tudi po izteku življenjske dobe mogoče enostavno odstraniti in okolju povrniti naravni izgled. Na temelje se pritrdi jekleno-aluminijasta podkonstrukcija, nanjo se namestijo paneli. Priključki in kabli so nato izpeljani večinoma po sami konstrukciji, zato ni dodatnega poseganja v naravo.

Ambiciozni načrti tudi v prihodnje

Ob tem, ko zaključujemo sklop treh svojih največjih sončnih elektrarn v regiji, pa že načrtujemo nove projekte elektrarn na obnovljive vire, tako v Sloveniji, kot v širši regiji.

V sklopu energetske tranzicije in s ciljem znižanja lastnega ogljičnega odtisa, kot tudi zaradi prednosti, ki jih prinaša samooskrba in lokalna proizvodnja elektrike, smo se v Petrolu odločili, da sončne elektrarne postavimo tudi na lastnih objektih, na strehah bencinskih servisov. Ne samo, da opažamo, da je vse več uporabnikom pomembno, kakšen je vir energije, ki napaja njihova gospodinjstva, električni avtomobil ali njihov posel, tudi naša strategija nas vodi v smeri, da bodo prodajna mesta v prihodnosti čim bolj energetsko samozadostna ter kot taka ustvarjala lastno energijo tudi za e-polnilnice, ki jih bodo dopolnjevali hranilniki energije.

V okviru projekta Petrol Green 1 bomo predvidoma do oktobra 2023 namestili 46 sončnih elektrarn, sledile pa bodo naslednje faze opremljanja prodajnih mest s sončnimi elektrarnami.

Ne le proizvodnja iz obnovljivih virov, ampak kombinacije energetskih rešitev

Zniževanje ogljičnega odtisa je prisotno v vseh sferah dejavnosti, tudi v osrednji dejavnosti oskrbe z naftnimi energenti. V Petrolu smo prepričani, da so najboljši odgovor na nove razmere kombinacije energetskih rešitev, zato se za partnerje potrudimo povezati več rešitev v celovito zgodbo ter jim pomagati pri zasnovi novega sodobnega koncepta energetskega sistema, ki je okolju prijazen in učinkovit. V partnerstvu z različnimi deležniki pripravljamo številne projekte za učinkovitejšo rabo energije, obenem pa s pomočjo obnovljivih virov energije prispevamo k večji energijski samooskrbi.

Tako jim recimo nudimo sončne elektrarne kot orodje za samooskrbo v okviru celovitih energetskih rešitev, s čimer skupaj prispevamo k večji konkurenčnosti slovenskega in širše evropskega gospodarstva. Še več, celovite rešitve in produkti omogočajo tudi navezavo tudi na druga, za nizkoogljično družbo prav tako pomembna področja, kot je električna mobilnost.

Z investicijo v postavitev treh sončnih elektrarn na kninsko-šibeniškem področju v skupini Petrol odgovarjamo na povečane potrebe po električni energiji, hkrati pa sledimo svoji zavezi prehoda v nizkoogljično družbo in zeleno prihodnost. Verjamemo, da s tem tudi podpiramo podjetja, lokalne skupnosti in gospodinjstva pri njihovem energetskem prehodu.

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Petrol’s energy transition strategy foresees investments in electricity generation from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro. This is why we are currently building our largest group of solar power plants in Croatia.

The importance of renewable energy sources

Renewables have been part of the public discourse for years, primarily because of environmental challenges and the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (or in other words, climate policies), but more recently they have garnered attention in the context of current situations such as the global energy crisis and the need to ensure a secure, reliable supply of electricity. Increased competitiveness that comes with self-generation is also increasingly coming to the fore, as it brings lower costs and lower risks in terms of supply and price volatility, with less dependence on imports or purchases.

The energy crisis has greatly accelerated the generation of electricity from renewable sources.

The trend of generating electricity from solar power plants is increasing rapidly around the world. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said years ago that solar energy could become “the new king of the world’s electricity markets”. More recently, he commented on a report by the IEA, pointing out that the crisis has given a strong boost to clean energy sources, with investment activity picking up after years of sluggish growth, and he predicts that solar will become the largest source of electricity generation by 2027.

Furthermore, according to ambitious estimates by the European Union, as much as 48% of all European energy will come from solar power by 2050. If ever, now is the time when the European Union is determined to find new ways to ensure energy security. Energy companies such as Petrol can help significantly by investing in new production facilities such as wind and solar power plants to increase energy independence. Solar energy is also recognised “as the king of the world’s electricity markets” in the strategy of Petrol, which embarked on a gradual energy transition a few years ago.

As part of its energy transition, Petrol is investing in renewable energy plants and contributing to a more secure energy supply.

Today, the Petrol Group already operates two wind farms in the region, with a total of 18 wind power plants in Croatia, five small hydropower plants in Bosnia and one in Serbia, and 30 small solar power plants on various buildings in Slovenia. The estimated output of these power plants for 2022 is up to 170 GWh, which is enough to power as many as 50,000 average households (for example, almost all the inhabitants of Maribor).

Petrol as a partner in the green transition and developer of renewables in the region

As a key element in the future development of the Petrol Group, renewable electricity production has a strategic place in Petrol's decision to become a modern and sustainable energy company. Our commitment to the green energy transition means that the Petrol Group will allocate over one-third of its total investment potential in the 2021–2025 strategic period to investments in the energy transition, the largest part of which will be for investments in renewable energy generation.

A reliable and affordable energy supply is important for everyone – households, businesses and public institutions.

We installed our first own solar power plant as early as in 2008, when constructing the Koper service station. In the following years, we added solar power plants at additional service stations and other Petrol facilities, such as the integrated economic area of Železarna Ravne, where we installed two small PV installations with a total capacity of 263 kW on the roofs of our facilities.

It all starts with the choice of location

The decision on the type of solar power plant depends on the type of location and the building. For example, we install small solar power plants on buildings that connect directly to the building’s grid and can contribute to the at least partial self-sustainability of the building. On the other hand, brownfield and otherwise non-functional sites are suitable for large power plants that connect to major power lines, so having the right infrastructure nearby is important.

In spring 2022, we started construction of our three largest solar power plants to date near Knin. We chose a location overlooking the Adriatic coast – areas that are rocky and barren, but rich in sunny days. As they are non-functional and close to the relevant electricity infrastructure, they are more than suitable for the installation of solar power plants, which have a minimal environmental impact.

We build in locations where it is possible to exploit the energy potential of renewable sources in an economically efficient and environmentally friendly way.

Newly developing solar farms in Croatia

Why were the locations in Croatia specifically chosen? The Petrol Group operates in a region where Croatia is our second most important market, both in terms of our core business of supplying energy products and fuels, and for future business.

The project involving one of the largest solar power plants in the region consists of three separate solar power plants: Suknovci with 10 MW of installed capacity, Pliskovo with 6.3 MW of installed capacity and Vrbnik with 5.7 MW of installed capacity, for a total installed capacity of 22 MW and an expected annual electricity production of 29 GWh. They are all located in Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia, within 5.7 or 6 km of each other. A total of 40,100 solar panels will be installed, generating enough green electricity for as many as 8,500 households – or all the inhabitants of Ptuj. They are expected to start generating electricity by spring 2023.

In spring 2022, Petrol started construction of its three largest solar power plants to date near Knin.

A special feature of the construction process: installation without concrete

A key advantage of Petrol’s new solar power plants is that they have minimal impact on the environment, during both construction and operation.

In order to minimise the environmental impact, the substructure of the solar power plants is fixed to foundations that are screwed into the ground without concrete reinforcement and can therefore be easily removed at the end of their lifetime, restoring the original appearance of the environment. A steel-aluminium substructure is fixed to the foundations and the panels are installed on top of it. The connections and cables are then mostly routed through the structure, so there is no additional impact on nature.

Ambitious plans for the future as well

As we complete our three largest solar power plants in the region, we are already planning new renewable power plant projects, both in Slovenia and in the wider region.

As part of the energy transition and with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint, and because of the benefits of self-sufficiency and local electricity production, we at Petrol have decided to install solar power plants on our own facilities, on the roofs of service stations. Not only do we see that more and more users care about the source of energy that powers their households, their electric car or their business, but our strategy is also steering us in the direction of making our service stations as energy self-sufficient as possible in the future, as such generating their own energy, including for the e-chargers, which will be complemented by energy storage solutions.

As part of the Petrol Green 1 project, 46 solar power plants are expected to be installed by October 2023, followed by the next phases of retrofitting the service stations with solar power plants.

Not just RES generation, but combinations of energy solutions

Reducing our carbon footprint is taking place across all of our spheres of activity, including the core business of petroleum energy supply. At Petrol, we are convinced that the best response to the new reality is a combination of energy solutions, and this is why we work hard to integrate multiple solutions into a complete story for our partners, helping them design a new modern energy system concept that is both environmentally friendly and efficient. In partnership with various stakeholders, we are working on a number of projects to improve energy efficiency while contributing to energy self-sufficiency through renewable energy sources.

For example, we offer solar power plants as a tool for self-sufficiency in the context of comprehensive energy solutions, collectively contributing to the greater competitiveness of the Slovenian and wider European economy. Moreover, comprehensive solutions and products also allow for links to other areas that are equally important for a low-carbon society, such as electric mobility.

By investing in the installation of three solar power plants in the Šibenik-Knin area, the Petrol Group is responding to the increased demand for electricity, while at the same time following through on its commitment to transition to a low-carbon society and a green future. We believe that by doing so, we are also supporting businesses, local communities and households in their energy transition.