Energy Efficiency in Croatia: EU Grant of 1.9 M Euro for Hvar

Croatia's sunniest island receives European Union grant for energy efficiency in public and private buildings, and HEP and Koncar to build solar plants.

The island of Hvar is receive a European Union grant of 1.9 million euro to develop an energy efficiency programme, part of the innovative pan-European Solution programme, according to Croatian daily,Slobodna Dalmacija.

The Renewable Energy ProjectSolution

The Solution project is an attempt by four communities across Europe to demonstrate that communities can achieve self-sufficiency with regard to thermal and electrical energy requirements for buildings through energy saving, the production of renewable energy, managing supply and demand, optimising installations, and monitoring consumption. The project is made of of a consortium of four participating communities - Cernier in Switzerland, Hartberg in Austria, Lapua in Finland, and Hvar, while Preddvor in Slovenia enjoying observer status.

In addition to the grant, there was more good environmental news for the island, which has just hosted a two-day seminar in Stari Grad and Hvar Town, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on Hvar.

Solar Power Plants on Eastern and Western Hvar

Leading Croatian companies Koncar O.I. doo and HEP-OIE doo will build two solar power plants (500 kW) on the west and east of the island, with an investment of 446,000 euro, according to Ivan Vrankovic, head of the iC Group, and an attendee at the seminar.

"In addition to this, in cooperation with the oil mill company Bozic from Svirce, we will be implementing a biogas plant for the production of compost, electricity, and heating and cooling energy, for which Europe is investing 108,000 euro in grants," Vrankovic was quoted as saying in the paper.

The total investment in the renewable energy projects is about 8 million euro, including the 1.9 million, which will be refunded to the project by the EU upon successful completion. Funding for the rest of the EU-approved project will come from investors, local government, other grants and soft commercial loans.

Improvement of Public Buildings

Some buildings have already benefited, including the school in Jelsa, which recently had news doors, windows and thermal insulation installed. It is planned to extend this investment to other public buildings, including the elementary and secondary schools in Hvar Town, the school in Stari Grad, three kindergartens, and various health centres and other public buildings.

The workshop took place at the same time as the SASO International Fair in Split, during which residents of Gdinj presented their plan to build a solar plant facility close to their village on eastern Hvar.

Known as the sunniest island in the Adriatic with an average of 2,724 hours of sunshine, it would seem that there is great potential to develop resources for the production of renewable energy on the island, which is more famous for its tourism than solar power production.

Days of Croatian Tourism 2011: Hvar's Pjerino Bebic is Best Mayor

Hvar's successful season continues with Mayor Bebic voted the best mayor at the annual 'Days of Croatian Tourism' awards.

The hard work of Hvar Town's energetic mayor, Pjerino Bebic, was officially recognised at the annual Days of Croatian Tourism ceremony on October 21, 2011, as he won the category of Best Mayor.

More Recognition for Hvar Island

Collecting the award, Bebic paid characteristic tribute to those around him, declaring the award was not for him personally, but for the whole town of Hvar, which was also recently voted top destination on the Croatian coast, after an undercover survey by national newspaper, Vecernji List.

"I honestly did not expect a prize," Bebic was quoted as saying in an interview in Politika Plus, "but I am very proud and happy. This is actually an award for all the fellow citizens of the town of Hvar, the best team of advisers a mayor could want (waiters, chefs, renters and fishermen. This award is yet another confirmation that everything we do, we do correctly, and the results are there for all to see."

Hvar as a Fairy-tale Destination

"Hvar is one of the most prominent tourist destinations," continued Bebic, "and we will maintain our position and improve. In short, when someone wants a fairy-tale holiday, we will do everything we can to make his first thought Hvar."

Bebic's efforts to promote the town and the island in general have been welcomed, and the Hvar's status as Croatia's premier island was once again confirmed as Hvar was voted 8th best island in Europe at the prestigious Conde Nast 2011 Readers' Choice Awards in New York earlier this week.

Bebic pointed out that Hvar is not content to rest on its laurels, and is keen to continue to expand the tourism offer, with improved sporting facilities and further development of the port in association with regional authorities.

Welcome to Facebook Island

Bebic made international headlines earlier this year with a unique invitation to Mark Zuckerburg, whom he invited to Hvar, and promised that he would rename one of the nearby Pakleni Islands 'Facebook Island' if he visited.

While Zuckerburg may not have come, plenty of other celebrities did, lured by the island's reputation as the sunniest in the Adriatic and with exclusive Hvar Town emerging as one of the trendiest celebrity hotspots in the Mediterranean. This year's two most high profile visitors were Prince Harry, complete with nightclub swim at Veneranda, and Beyonce, who revealed her baby bump to the world at the Hula Hula Beach Club.

With the tireless efforts of Croatia's Tourism Mayor of the Year, and the continuing celebrity interest in Hvar, 2012 looks like being a bumper year for the island's 11,500 inhabitants.

Solar Energy in Croatia: First Plant to be Built in Gdinj, Hvar?

Residents of small village on Hvar present plan to maximise the energy potential of Croatia's sunniest island at the SASO International Fair in Split.

A comprehensive plan to introduce the first solar power plant on Hvar has been presented by a delegation from the village of Gdinj at the SASO International Fair in Split, according to Croatian news portal Business.hr in a report on October 20, 2011.

Exploiting Hvar's Natural Resources

A key theme at the fair was the topic of long-term development strategies in the renewable energy sector, for which Dalmatia has excellent resources and potential, with the renowned climate of the island of Hvar - it averages 2,724 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest island in the Adriatic - just one example.

"Can Dalmatian islands offer something more than the sea, the sun, the shore, the summer and tourism?" asked Alen Curin, the head of the Gdinj project. His answer was an emphatic yes, in the shape of renewable energy, from the sun, sea and wind.

"The ideal location of great energy potential, energy crisis and high prices of energy – which can only be produced from renewable sources – are just some of the advantages of the [Gdinj] location," Curin added.

Potential of Eastern Hvar

The Gdinj plan would employ a dozen locals, install a solar power plant facility with a 2 MW capacity on the highest point near Gdinj, and synchronise with the national grid, helping to meet the increased tourist demand in peak season.

If successful, the project would be a welcome boost for the local community, which is several depopulated in comparison to the more fashionable western half of the island, whose main settlement, Hvar Town, is one of the hottest destinations in the Adriatic, attracting celebrities such as Beyonce and Prince Harry this summer alone.

In contrast, the eastern side of the island, arguably the most beautiful part, is comprised of four almost-abandoned stone villages and pockets of population in a few isolated bays, and one small town, the port of Sucuraj, which connects Hvar to the mainland and is the gateway to Dubrovnik.

Nikki Beach to Build Luxury Resort near Sucuraj

The potential of virgin land in such a stunning and desirable location has been attracting the interest of international investors, keen to exploit other aspects of the island's potential. The luxury hotel chain, Nikki Beach Resorts, has purchased 80,000m2 of land close to Sucuraj, and is in the process of obtaining the permits to build one of the most luxurious resorts on the Croatian coast.

Whether it be expanding tourism or exploiting Hvar's natural resources to improve renewable energy, there plenty of potential in the island recently voted among Europe's top ten by readers of Conde Nast.

Marine Life in Croatia: Mediterranean Monk Seals off Hvar Island

At least 7 Mediterranean monk seals are living in the Adriatic, with new sightings near the islands of Korcula, Solta and Hvar, says Jasna Antolovic

More information about the whereabouts of the rare Mediterranean Monk Seal was revealed in a lecture by Jasna Antolovic, head of the Zagreb-based Mediterranean Monk Seal association, during a lecture on the island of Hvar, according to a report inSlobodna Dalmacija on October 16, 2011.

Mediterranean Monk Seal Lecture on Hvar

The lecture, entitled U potrazi za morskim covikom (In search of the sea man) took place at the library in Hvar Town as part of the Croatian Book Club, and was well attended by locals interested to learn more about the rare marine life.

According to Antolovic, the Mediterranean monk seal (sea man) was first recorded in 1779, after the discovery of carcasses at Osor on the island of Cres, further up the Croatian coast. The global population is thought to be only 350. They exist in small isolated groups, and are ranked among the ten most endangered species in the world. Rare footage of a monk seal was taken in June this year, again off the island of Cres.

Monk Seal Sightings in the Adriatic

The monk seal has been protected in the Adriatic since 1935, according to Antolovic, with mandatory fines of 100,000 kuna ($20,000) for killing seals.

Antolovic's organisation has been researching and exploring 74 caves since 1994, as was shown in a short video. Their conclusions from their extensive research are that there are at least seven seals living off Kamenjak in Istria, the Losinj-Cres archipelago and parts of the central and southern Adriatic.

Increased public awareness through education has led to a heightened interest in the seals, with some ten reported sightings in the waters around the island of Hvar, the most recent coming from Solta, Korcula and Podgora. These will all be investigated by the association shortly.

Regular Dolphin Sightings off Hvar

The island of Hvar has a rich marine life, and scuba-diving is one of the more popular water activities for its many tourists. Visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the sight of dolphins swimming close to its shores, with regular sightings in the Hvar Channel between the island and Brac.

The most high-profile dolphin sighting in recent years was in the harbour of Stari Grad, where a lonely dolphin entered the deep bay in 2005, and could not find its way out, trying fruitlessly to escape, before a team of Croatian experts managed to coax it back into the ocean, after a stressful three days in the harbour.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workshop on Hvar, Croatia

Local authorities announce a 2-day workshop to improve awareness on energy solutions, as EU-funded energy saving project moves forward on the island.

Efforts to raise awareness on energy efficiency and renewable energy are being intensified on the island of Hvar with the announcement of a two-workshop, according to an official release from the Stari Grad Municipal website on October 13, 2011.

The island, best known for its excellent climate and celebrity draw - Prince Harry and Beyonce both made global headlines with their visits in 2011 - is the sunniest island in the Adriatic, with a reputed average of 2,724 hours of sunshine a year, a fact which has attracted the interest of the solar energy industry.

Energy Efficiency Workshop in Stari Grad and Hvar Town

The aim of the workshop is to provide training for residents, entrepreneurs and local government to raise awareness for better implementation of energy efficiency and energy sources, with the longer-term goal of moving the island to greater energy independence.

Key areas to be addressed by the workshop include improving energy efficiency in the building sector, the development of safe and cost-effective storage of electricity produced from renewable sources, and the use of renewable energies (including solar and biogas).

The workshop will begin on Thursday October 20 in Stari Grad with a workshop for representatives of local government and public enterprises, before an afternoon session devoted to entrepreneurs. The workshops on the second day will take place in Hotel Palace in Hvar Town.

The workshop comes at a time of rising utility prices in Croatia, as elsewhere, but it is not the only initiative taking place.

The Concerto Solution Project: 20% Self-Sufficient by 2020?

The island of Hvar is one of four communities taking part in an EU-funded project run byConcerto Solution, a European consortium of four communities from Cernier in Switzerland, Hartberg in Austria, Lapua in Finland and Hvar, with Preddvor in Slovenia enjoying observer status.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate that communities can become self-sufficient in thermal and electricity energy requirements for buildings. This is to be achieved through energy-saving measures, energy storage, and the production of renewable energy, while managing supply and demand and monitoring consumption.

The specific goal of the project on Hvar is to make the island 20% self-sufficient in its energy needs through self-sustainable renewable energy by 2020. The main strategies to achieve this goal include the introduction of photovoltaic plants and solar thermal modules, compressed air energy storage and energy production from biomass.

The issue of energy security is crucial for the island, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and its permanent population of 11,500 residents swells significantly in the busy tourist season, a fact which is certain to continue as the island's unique charms attract wider international attention.

Conde Nast 2011: Croatian Island of Hvar in Europe's Top Ten

The island of Hvar's high profile tourist season continues as it is voted in Europe's Top Ten Islands in the Conde Nast 2011 Reader's Choice Awards.

The beauty and quality of tourism offer of the island of Hvar was once again recognised in the prestigious Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards on October 11, 2011, as Croatia's premier island was voted the eighth most best island in Europe.

Record Number of Votes Cast

The awards, announced in New York are now in their 24th year, and a record 28,876 readers cast more than eight million votes for the 2011 winners, ranking the world's best cities, islands, cruise lines, hotels, airlines and resorts. A full breakdown of all the winners will appear in the November edition of the upmarket travel magazine.

Hvar finished eighth in the European islands category, behind the winning island Bozcaeda, in the Turkish Aegean. Mykonos was the runner-up, followed by Madeira, Mallorca, the Shetland Islands, Capri and the Isle of Skye.

Hvar Voted Top Destination by Vecernji List

This international recognition comes on the heels of Hvar - famed for its stunning beauty and average of 2718 hours of sunshine a year - being chosen as the top destination on the Croatian coast by the Vecernji Tourist Patrol, a 40-day undercover survey of the country's Adriatic resorts by national newspaper, Vecernji List, who summed up Hvar as "the town has everything and then something on top of that."

It has been a high-profile summer for the Adriatic island, which also boasts the oldest organised tourism in Europe with the founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868; in addition to the usual celebrities and super-yachts, the island made global headlines twice towards the end of the season.

Busy Celebrity Summer on Hvar

Prince Harry's decision to jump fully clothed into the swimming pool at top open air nightclub Veneranda was caught on video and beamed around the world, while Beyonce took the opportunity to show off her baby bump to the world at the trendy Hula Hula Beach Club in Hvar Town in September.

While Hvar is perhaps best known for the party atmosphere of its main town, a stunning Venetian stone town with commanding Spanish Fortress overlooking the picturesque Pakleni Islands, there is much more to discover that the beach and vibrant nightlife. It also boasts a rich cultural hertiage dating back to Neolithic times and has the largest cultivated field on the Adriatic, the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, where agricultural practices have remained largely unchanged and uninterrupted for 24 centuries.

UNESCO also protects the 500 year-old Easter Procession of Za Krizem, a 22 km procession following the cross through the night every Maundy Thursday, while the island's aromatic flora and fauna is another draw, in particular the annual lavender festival, is another draw to this versatile and thriving island.

Honey in Croatia: Hvar Resident 4th at Apimondia in Argentina

The quality of Hvar's honey is recognised at Apimondia 2011 in Buenos Aires, while Stari Grad's Boris Buratovic also collects awards in Osijek.

Local Hvar resident Boris Buratovic is enjoying international recognition for the quality of his honey, after coming fourth in the mono-floral honey section of the 42nd International Beekeeping Congress, Apimondia 2011, which took place in Buenos Aires, according to a press release on the official Stari Grad Municipal website on October 9, 2011.

Buratovic won the award for his rosemary honey, one of the prevalent herbs grown on Hvar, which is best known in flora and fauna terms for its lavender - it was once the most important centre of lavender production in Dalmatia, and celebrates the harvest every year at the Velo Grablje festival.

Apimondia, the Beekeepers Federation

Apimondia is the official international federation of the associations of beekeepers and was founded in 1949 in Amsterdam at the International Apiarist Congress. Its mandate is to promote all aspects of apicultural development globally.

Buratovic followed up his South American success with domestic medals in the Days of Honey conference, which took place in northern Croatia in Osijek from October 5 - 9, 2011, winning a gold medal for his rosemary honey and a silver in the floral honey division.

Beekeeping is a serious business on Hvar, with more than 100 beekeepers on the island maintaining over 3,000 hives, of which half are members of the Lavender Beekeepers Society, according to the Jelsa Tourist Office.

Types of Honey on Hvar

Important varieties of honey produced on Hvar include rosemary, which is in bloom from February to April; sage, which blooms in April and May; and the island's trademark crop, aromatic lavender from June and July. The high quality end product is a popular souvenir for departing tourists.

The success of Buratovic highlights a lesser highlighted side to the island of Hvar, which is better known for the party atmosphere of Hvar Town, which is attracting celebrities in ever greater numbers. Two notable visits in 2011 which grabbed international headlines were Prince Harry's decision to jump into a nightclub swimming club fully clothed, while Beyonce revealed her baby bump to the world at trendy Hula Hula Beach Club.

Hvar's Outstanding Natural Products

Away from the glitz and glamour, Hvar's agricultural sector is producing some high quality products which are being appreciated internationally. In addition to the honey and lavender oil, the wines of Hvar are attracting global attention, with the vineyards of Zlatan Plenkovic producing the only Grad Cru wine in Croatia.

Another important crop is olives, and the virgin olive oil produced from Hvar's fields, many of which have been cultivated without interruption since the Ancient Greeks arrived in 385 BC, is among the best in the world.