Križevci decided to put its residents at the heart of its energy independence, and is now leading solar energy production in Croatia
Križevci might be a small city north-east of Croatia, but it is taking large strides when it comes to transitioning to a low-carbon and sustainable place. Rich in sunlight and surrounded by fertile agricultural land, Križevci understood that if these resources are used wisely, it could become energy and food independent by 2030.
Križevci also understood and committed to another salient point- that in order to achieve these ambitious goals it needs to put its citizens at the heart of everything and ensure that they are co-developer, one of the main drivers as well as investors of this transition.
A shared vision with its residents for a better future
Križevci’s bold climate and energy vision is rooted in the city’s Development Strategy 2021–2030, which was co-designed with local residents and stakeholders. The plan focuses on harnessing the city’s abundant natural resources, such as solar and geothermal energy, to work towards becoming a self-reliant and climate-resilient community.
The seeds of this transition were planted in 2018, when the city, in partnership with the ZEZ energy cooperative, launched two successful crowdfunding campaigns for solar power installations on public buildings. The strong community response to the fundraising efforts signalled something important: residents were ready and willing to take ownership of their energy future.
Two years later, a group of 10 engaged residents built on this momentum to create KLIK- a climate innovation laboratory that has since become a key player in driving Križevci’s climate ambitions.
Beyond community energy: KLIK as a One-Stop-Shop for climate action
From the very beginning, KLIK aimed to go beyond becoming an energy community cooperative. It always envisioned becoming a community hub that would be able to support all aspects of a local and green transition: from increased uptake of renewable energy to advocacy for more sustainable living practices.
That vision is now a full-functioning reality. KLIK operates as a One-Stop-Shop offering advice and financial guidance for home renovations and the installation of solar PV systems. Beyond this, KLIK’s work is about community.
Its climate office has become a vibrant space that promotes sustainability through hands-on activities like vegan cooking classes, composting workshops, and film nights for children.
These events not only raise awareness but also highlight the many co-benefits of sustainable living, such as improved health and wellbeing. As an inclusive organisation that cares for enabling these services to vulnerable groups, KLIK also support to underserved groups to ensure that no one is left behind in Križevci’s transition.
The numbers tell a clean energy power-ful story
Križevci’s commitment to becoming an energy-resilient city, and KLIK’s efforts in implementing this vision have left a significant impact. In fact, household solar installations in Križevci have increased from 3 to 50 in a single year.
Moreover, Križevci’s most ambitious community energy project to date, the 200 kW ‘ZEZ Sun’ solar power plant on the city’s produce market, is now one of the largest in the region. KLIK had an important role in facilitating financing for this power plant, and will play and even larger role in managing resident investments for a 5.2 MW power plant that the city of Križevci has planned.
There is still a lot of effort required to power the city with clean energy sources, but there is also a lot of work going on to ensure this vision is met. Križevci currently consumes around 30 GWh of electricity per year, an amount that could be fully met with 24 MW of installed solar capacity.
Today, the city generates 3.23 MW from solar energy. Of this, 1.5 MW comes from 183 household PV systems, most of which were installed through KLIK’s support, while another 1.73 MW come from installations on public buildings and local businesses.
With the addition of the new 5.2 MW power plant by the end of 2025 the city will reach close to 10 MW and therefore, will be moving closer to reaching the 24 MW needed. With these numbers, Križevci accounts for almost 1% of all solar power plants in Croatia, despite being a city of just 20,000 people.
What’s behind KLIK’s success?
Several key factors have enabled KLIK to thrive:
Political Commitment: The city’s leadership has not only supported KLIK with funding and office space but has made citizen involvement a core part of its energy strategy.
Diverse Financing: From EU grants to national public calls and community investments, KLIK has successfully tapped into a variety of funding streams to enable its activities.
Motivated Team: A small but dedicated group of citizens with the right skills and shared values laid the foundation for what KLIK has become today.
Lessons learnt and looking ahead
Despite its success, KLIK’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. There remains a need for broader public education on climate issues, particularly in surrounding rural areas.
Additionally, the complexity of KLIK’s operations often requires interdisciplinary expertise that can be hard to source locally.
Long-term sustainability also depends on securing ongoing financial support—whether through partnerships, grants, or innovative business models. This is not easy to accomplish.
Replicating similar actions in Croatia and beyond:
KLIK’s work has already caught the attention of other municipalities in Croatia and in neighbouring countries. Its close collaboration with the city, strategic partnerships (especially with ZEZ), and ability to embed itself within the fabric of the local community are among the most replicable aspects of its success.
The city of Križevci was what enabled all this, and its advice? To start by building relationships with residents, with local organisations, and other trusted partners who could help, with their own means and their own ways to implement the city’s vision. Finding ways to make participation easy and accessible is essential. And above all, communities should be empowered to take the lead.
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