According to the national policy for hydrogen from 2021 to 2050, Croatia wants to develop 70 megawatts (MW) of hydrogen production facilities by 2030 and 2,750 MW by 2050, in order to increase its proportion of total energy consumption from zero to 0.2 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
According to the scenario for reaching climate neutrality by 2050, electrolyzers with a capacity of 70 MW by 230 and 2,750 MW by 2050 will be installed. However, the authors estimate that the goals could be increased in the case of accelerated development of a hydrogen-based economy in the EU, as well as the potential of renewables in Croatia, based on the fast-growing potential of a hydrogen-based economy in the EU and the potential of renewables in Croatia.
According to the strategy, electrolyzers with a capacity of 1,270 MW can be installed by 2030 and 7,330 MW by 2050. In this scenario, hydrogen’s proportion of energy consumption would increase to 3.75 percent by 2030 and 15 percent by 2050.
The policy outlines the country’s vision for hydrogen technology development, research, manufacturing, infrastructure, and application, with the objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, as well as national targets for alternative fuel infrastructure development.
Investments between EUR 3.1 to EUR 9.3 billion are required.
The strategy cites the EU Hydrogen Strategy, which estimates total investments in production capabilities by 2050 to be in the range of EUR 180 to EUR 470 billion, and concludes that considerable expenditures are also required in Croatia to develop a hydrogen-based economy.
For each of the two scenarios, the needed capital investments were calculated, including the expenses of electrolyzers, compressors, and hydrogen tanks.
According to the analysis, the climate neutrality scenario will require EUR 3.1 billion in investments by 2050, compared to EUR 9.3 billion in the rapid growth of a hydrogen-based economy scenario.
Croatia had said that it intends to produce its first hydrogen by 2025.
