Small hydro power plant in Pleternica is the first power plant owned by the local self-government unit in Croatia (The city of Pleternica) and first Croatian small hydropower plant integrated in electrical grid. It is positioned on river Orljava that has a potential for installation of several more power plants of this kind. Electrical power of the plant is 220 kW, and it will produce 1.100 MWh of electrical energy per year and efficiency of 96 – 98 %. It has almost no effect on the environment. For comparison, this amount of electrical energy is sufficient to cover energy demand and cost for public lighting of entire municipality.
The total investment in the project was around 5 million HRK, co financed by the City of Pleternica, Energy efficiency and environmental protection fund and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. Many procedural obstacles have occurred since many law regulations have changed in the process of project implementation which has started in 2006. Additional expense of the investment has occurred for environmental study, which at the end turned out to be unnecessary. The City of Pleternica had to establish the company to be able to gain the concession from the Croatian government for using the stream of river Orljava. After the testing period, the company has gained the status of eligible producer of electrical energy and has made a contract for the sale of electrical energy with the HEP (Croatian national electrical company) for the period of 14 years.
This project will make a profit of 850.000,00 HRK per year, which is more than the annual cost for public lighting of entire municipality. Financial savings can be used for other capital project in the area, and at the same time it will help to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.