Vetropack Group‘s subsidiary in Croatia, Vetropack Straža, is in the process of making production at its plant in Hum na Sutli ever more sustainable – with the upcoming installation of a third solar power plant, Vetropack Straža III.
The project is set to begin in September 2024 and will span 11 months, during which 4,483 photovoltaic modules and 25 inverters will be installed on the roofs of key facilities. Co-financing of the project known as MF-2023-1-1-120 comes through an agreement with the Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. Valued at EUR 1,363,108.89, the project receives co-financing of EUR 817,865.33 from the Modernizacijski Fond (Modernisation Fund).
All the energy generated will be used for producing glass bottles and jars in the plant in Hum na Sutli.
“The project contributes to Vetropack’s sustainable development by reducing energy consumption by approximately 1900 MWh and greenhouse gas emissions by 300 tonnes of CO2 per year,” said Mario Berc, Technical Manager at Vetropack Straža.
Installing solar plants and using the generated renewable energy in production directly supports Vetropack’s goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent per tonne of glass produced by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels). These carbon emission reduction targets are aligned with science-based data as provided by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Vetropack first announced its commitment to the initiative in 2022 and has submitted specific CO2 emission reduction targets to the SBTi for validation in April 2024.
On the path to renewable energy since 2019
At Vetropack Straža, previously unused large roof areas had been transformed into a productive asset with the installation of 3,400 solar panels as early as 2019. These panels cover an area of 5,565 square metres and generate an estimated 1,000 MWh of electricity per year, which is used to power air compressors.
Since 2019, Vetropack Straža has further advanced its sustainable energy initiatives, notably by joining the KOER virtual power plant in 2023. This partnership contributes to the stability of the Croatian energy system through the integration of new renewable capacity, enabling Vetropack Straža to play an important role in supporting a more sustainable energy infrastructure.