Končanica fishponds project to feature 400 MW floating solar plant

In Croatia, a new environmental impact study has been released for a major project at the Končanica fishponds. The plan includes the installation of a large floating solar power plant consisting of approximately 690,000 photovoltaic panels covering 216 hectares of water surface. The plant is expected to have an installed capacity of 400 megawatts, with an estimated annual production of 440 gigawatt-hours.

The project aims to address severe water shortages at the fishponds by using the solar panels to reduce water evaporation and summer heating. Additionally, the initiative proposes transitioning fish production to intensive indoor tanks, which would increase annual yields from current levels of 600–700 tons to approximately 1,700 tons. The broader infrastructure plan involves constructing electrolyzers, new transformer stations, and roughly 24 kilometers of power lines passing through several regions, including Lipik and Garešnica. Because the ponds are located within the Natura 2000 ecological network, the study specifically examines the impact on local wildlife, including birds, amphibians, beavers, and otters.