From Rooftop Solar to 200 Thousand Euros in Annual Revenue

How much will energy prices be next month is one of the most pressing questions that domestic entrepreneurs have been facing for some time, and the general narrative suggests that everyone is in trouble. Even if you only have an office in the basement of your house, using just a computer and a printer, the chances are that your monthly bills are five-digit. But not everyone is in such a situation! A certain segment of economic entities does not feel the energy crisis because they set up solar panels in time or, even better, built cogeneration systems for producing thermal energy. Judging by such examples, these companies are not only weathering the current crisis unscathed but are also earning additional income. And quite well!

One of these companies is the Međimurje-based company Tehnix, specialized in the production of industrial and other containers and circular economy. As Đuro Horvat, the director of Tehnix, points out for Lider, the company earns 200,000 euros annually just from selling the electricity produced by their solar panels.

– Tehnix is not facing any problems in the current situation of energy crisis and volatile electricity prices. We prepared for such challenges in advance. We already have one solar power plant on the roof of our production complex, and we are currently installing a second one. We consume half of the produced electricity and sell the other half to HEP, making this a significant source of income for us. Additionally, we have no issues with heating as we heat with our own waste – said Horvat, who recommends such models of circular economy and sustainable energy approaches to other economic entities to become more competitive and respond to the challenges of modern times.

– We prepared in time for the situation we anticipated, and that is the essence of business, preparing quality strategies for the future – Horvat proudly emphasizes.

There are no problems with the increased prices of electricity and gas either, as we unofficially learn, for the furniture manufacturer Spin Valis from Požega. This company, which is one of the largest consumers of gas and probably electricity in the entire Požega-Slavonia County, is energy neutral. Not only do they have a solar power plant, but they also have cogeneration for producing thermal energy, and they sell all the excess they produce but do not use to HEP. They believe they could earn better from this, but since the contracts with HEP were signed for the long term and quite some years ago when prices were different, they cannot say they are making excessive profits, but at least they are not in trouble like entrepreneurs who have not diversified their energy sources.

In the End, Without Support

Denis Nemčević, the director of Spider Group, has also turned to renewable energy sources. Two years ago, he applied for grants for a solar power plant, but since the entire procedure was complicated, in the end, the solar power plant at the tea production facility in Pitomača was financed by the company without support.

– Recently, we installed two solar power plants at our facilities, and although we have just entered this whole story of producing electricity that we will use, and part will be sold to HEP, I do not expect that the price of this energy source will cause us problems anymore – claims Nemčević, who adds that this does not mean he is without headaches as the price of gas continues to complicate business operations. Gas is the primary energy source for the dryer, and since they do not have their own cogeneration, as it simply does not pay off, they will suffer for some time until the prices of this energy source stabilize. However, anything is better than nothing.

Croatian entrepreneurs, it seems, have not been sitting idly by; they have been listening to the situation and reacting in a timely manner by setting up new sources of electricity, which has reduced not only their costs but also the uncertainty and unpredictability in their business. At least some of them. Investments may have seemed too expensive at some point, but it has turned out that they were desperately needed. Those determined and brave can now also profit from the increase in the purchase price of electricity, unless the government, based on EU recommendations, limits their profits, and they hope that this will not happen.