Slovenia’s state-owned electricity company, HSE, together with its subsidiaries ECE (specialising in renewable energy) and Energija plus (focusing on solar installations), signed several contracts to install solar panels on public buildings across Northeast Slovenia, including Zagorje ob Savi, Celje, Šoštanj, Velenje, Ormož, Ptuj, Murska Sobota, Ljutomer, Hoče and others. The projects are co-financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Zagorje ob Savi – Solar plant on a former landfill

A solar plant will be built on the closed Kamnolom Zagorje landfill with a capacity of up to 1.3 megawatts (MW). It will be completed within 12 months once construction conditions are met. Installing a solar plant on a former landfill is a good example of reusing degraded land and helps the municipality move toward energy self-sufficiency.

Celje – The first urban energy community

In Celje, ECE will install about 1.4 MW of solar panels on public buildings, including the Z’ dežele Stadium, the summer swimming pool and the health centre. The project also covers maintenance, managing surplus and shortfall electricity, and running the city’s first energy community, connecting over 40 public buildings. The new plants will produce around 1,462 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity per year, saving roughly 200,000 euros in energy costs.

Šoštanj – Moving toward self-sufficiency

In Šoštanj, four solar plants with a total of 0.5 MW will be installed on the sports hall, music school, and health centre in partnership with ECE. They will produce around 500 MWh annually; therefore, 70 per cent of the electricity used in public buildings will come from renewable sources.

Velenje – Solar plants for the future

In Velenje, 13 solar plants totalling 1.97 MW will be installed on schools, kindergartens, the health centre and the wastewater treatment plant. Work will start in October, bringing energy savings and strengthening Velenje’s role as a green city.

Hoče Consortium – 22 buildings go solar

Energija Plus will install 22 solar plants with a total of 1.3 MW in the Hoče consortium. The municipalities will gain energy self-sufficiency and further advance the green transition.

Ptuj – Largest project to date

Ptuj, together with Energija plus, will build 13 solar plants totalling 1.5 MW. The largest, over 0.6 MW, will be on the wastewater treatment plant. This project will increase clean energy production and reduce the municipality’s carbon footprint.

Puconci Consortium – 2.2 MW of solar power

In the Puconci consortium, Energija plus will build solar plants on 28 buildings totalling 2.2 MW. Ormož will have the largest share, with nearly 1 MW across six buildings. The plants will produce over 1,000 MWh of electricity per year, enough for about 300 households.