HSE’s Cooperation With Local Communities is the Foundation of a Successful Green Transition
The management of Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) and the mayors of the municipalities of Trbovlje and Hrastnik today signed an agreement on mutual cooperation in the field of renewable energy development projects.
Under the agreement, HSE commits to sell 10% of the annual electricity generated from the newly built solar power plants at Prapretno to the municipalities at cost price, and the municipalities will use this share of electricity to supply public institutions in Trbovlje and Hrastnik at lower costs.
The signed agreement is thus an example of good practice and exemplary cooperation between the investor and the local community in the siting of an energy facility
The HSE Group is the largest producer of electricity from renewable sources in Slovenia, and Zasavje, as a strategic energy location, plays an important role in the country’s decarbonisation. The Prapretno solar power plant, commissioned in April 2022 and still one of the largest solar power plants in Slovenia, is accelerating the green transition of the former coal region.
It not only preserves the existing energy site at the closed Prapretno landfill, but also upgrades it. The Prapretno SPP, which will be located in both municipalities following an expansion, will have a new capacity of 9.8 megawatts, and a battery storage of up to 7 megawatts will be added to increase flexibility and direct control.
The HSE has already obtained a construction permit for the above-mentioned energy facilities and the upgraded part is expected to be operational in October 2025. Activities in the area of new development projects in Zasavje region have been coordinated by HSE’s subsidiary, HSE – Energetska družba Trbovlje, for several years.
In the agreement on mutual cooperation in the field of renewable energy development projects, signed today by Dr Tomaž Štokelj, CEO of HSE, Uroš Podobnik, Commercial Director of HSE, mag. Zoran Poznič, Mayor of Trbovlje, and Marko Funkl, Mayor of Hrastnik, the investor, HSE, undertakes to sell to the municipalities 10% of the annual electricity produced from the Prapretno solar power plant at cost price, and both municipalities to ensure lower costs for the supply of electricity to public institutions in Trbovlje and Hrastnik.
Words of leaders on the topic
“As Slovenia’s most important energy company, the HSE Group has a key and responsible role to play in Slovenia’s green transition,” emphasised the CEO of HSE Dr Tomaž Štokelj. “Our development orientations are focused on the potential of renewable energy sources, in particular solar, hydro and wind, while developing green energy solutions for end-users.
“The energy location in Zasavje region offers a number of opportunities to realise our vision of being a leader in Slovenia’s green transition, which is also linked to the national decarbonisation strategy. We are focusing on speeding up the siting process and engaging in constructive dialogue with all key stakeholders.”
Uroš Podobnik, Commercial Director of HSE, emphasised: “HSE has challenging, but fair and constructive interlocutors in the field of spatial planning in Zasavje region. I believe that today’s signing of the agreement is a great step forward, that we will continue our constructive cooperation and that together we will successfully implement a number of energy projects in Zasavje region.”
He cited the construction of the hydroelectric power plants on the Middle Sava as a key project, the first section (Suhadol HPP, Trbovlje HPP and Renke HPP) of which is expected to be publicly announced and undergo a public discussion in spring 2025.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Trbovlje, mag. Zoran Poznič: “The Municipality of Trbovlje is preparing to launch large-scale projects that will not only represent a new economic breakthrough, but bring fundamental changes in all areas of the local community’s life.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the principle of efficient use of energy through the green transition principle is, of course, of paramount importance. The agreement with Holding Slovenske elektrarne represents significant savings for the Municipality of Trbovlje and also confirms that our investment in equipping all public buildings with solar power plants is also leading our development in the field of efficient use of energy resources on the right path.
Together with the Municipality of Hrastnik, we will host the largest solar power plant in Slovenia. Thank you again for the understanding of the HSE management, and for their willingness to work with the local community in our development.”
