Croatia recorded a new record summer electricity demand peak in August, with the highest system stress occurring during hot-weather evening hours. The latest peak was reached at 21:00, when hourly consumption hit 3,400.5 MWh. This exceeded the previous summer record of 3,362.8 MWh set in 2024 and the 3,150.1 MWh level recorded last year.
The August peak also surpassed the most recent winter maximum of 3,264.2 MWh. Cooling demand is cited as one driver of the shift, alongside tourism activity. During summer, electricity use moves sharply toward Croatia’s coastal and tourist regions, where demand in some locations can rise to as much as five times winter levels.
Demand levels and factors affecting monthly consumption
National electricity consumption reached 10.632 million MWh in January-July. The figure was around 1% higher year on year and 1.9% above the 2024 level. July demand totaled 1.662 million MWh, about 8% below July 2024 despite severe heat this summer.
The relationship between temperature and consumption is described as complex. Humidity, wind conditions, holidays, the duration of heatwaves and tourism activity can all materially change demand patterns. These factors can affect both overall monthly levels and how load develops across the day.
Evening load profile and solar generation impact
For power market operations, the changing hourly profile is highlighted as more important than temperature alone. Croatia’s grid is generally most heavily loaded between 20:00 and 22:00. Midday underlying demand can also be strong, but growing rooftop solar generation increasingly supplies some consumption behind the meter.
This dynamic pushes the visible system peak toward the evening as solar output declines rapidly after midday . The result is a higher share of peak stress occurring during evening hours rather than traditional winter periods.
Flexible resources and planned storage capacity
HEP is responding by increasing the role of flexible assets to manage system conditions during these peak hours. Hydropower output is adjusted according to system circumstances, while market imports are used when domestic production is insufficient . Battery storage is planned alongside the recently commissioned 75 MW Korlat solar plant.
A 45 MW Sukosan project is also planned for battery storage capacity. Longer-term flexibility options include reservoir and pumped-storage developments such as HES Kosinj and HPP Vinodol.
