Zadar Energija d.o.o. announces its participation in the project European Energy Storage Alliance for innovative interregional investments in renewable energy value chains

Zadar Energija d.o.o. announces its participation in the project European Energy Storage Alliance for innovative interregional investments in renewable energy value chains – ENSA, a European initiative focused on the development, demonstration and market deployment of innovative energy storage solutions.

Over a period of 36 months, the project will bring together energy companies, technology developers, research institutions, regional development agencies and innovation organisations from across Europe to advance practical and commercially viable energy storage solutions.

The project is funded by the European Union under the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3), Call and Topic I3-2025-INV1. The granting authority is the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), while the project is coordinated by CONSORCIO AGENCIA EXTREMENA DE LA ENERGIA (AGENEX) from Spain. Zadar Energija participates as Beneficiary No. 17 in a consortium comprising 26 beneficiaries and two Associated Partners from 11 EU Member States.

The forthcoming launch of ENSA marks the beginning of three years of European cooperation focused on developing efficient, scalable and commercially viable solutions for storing renewable electricity.

A European investment in innovative energy storage

The total eligible costs of the ENSA project amount to EUR 10,016,948.35, with a maximum EU grant of EUR 7,128,863.84. Zadar Energija d.o.o. has total eligible project costs of EUR 357,863.65, with a maximum EU grant of EUR 250,504.55. The remaining EUR 107,359.10 represents Zadar Energija’s own contribution.

Through this investment framework, ENSA connects technological innovation, renewable energy production, energy storage, investment development and interregional cooperation. The project will support the demonstration and further development of eight innovative energy storage technologies towards market readiness, strengthen the technical and business capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitate, support or launch interregional innovative energy storage investments valued at more than EUR 80 million.

Responding to the growing need for energy storage

The continued expansion of solar and wind energy across Europe is increasing the need for more flexible and reliable energy systems. Renewable electricity production depends on weather conditions and does not always coincide with periods of highest electricity demand.

At the same time, electricity grids and existing storage infrastructure are not developing at the same pace as renewable energy production. Consequently, part of the electricity generated from renewable sources may not be absorbed by the grid or used efficiently.

Energy storage solutions make it possible to store surplus electricity and use it when required, contributing to grid stability, reducing fluctuations in renewable electricity production and supporting peak-load management, energy communities, smart grids and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

ENSA will address these challenges by bringing together companies, researchers, public authorities and regional organisations capable of advancing innovative technologies towards practical application and wider market deployment.

Strategic importance for Zadar Energija

For Zadar Energija d.o.o., participation in ENSA represents an opportunity to strengthen its position within the European energy storage sector and expand its expertise from renewable energy production towards the integration of advanced storage solutions.

With experience in operating more than 440 MW of wind and solar capacity across Croatia, Zadar Energija is increasingly focused on the role that energy storage can play in improving grid stability and supporting new energy applications.

Participation in ENSA will provide the company with access to a European network of

technology developers, research institutions, renewable energy operators and innovation

organisations, enabling the exchange of knowledge and practical experience and the assessment of advanced storage technologies for potential application within the Croatian energy market.

Preparing for the start of implementation

In preparation for the official project launch, ENSA partners are establishing the foundations for three years of cooperation focused on technology demonstration, knowledge exchange, capacity building, market development and investment mobilisation.

Participation in ENSA will strengthen Zadar Energija’s technical and organisational capacities, expand its international network and support its further development within the European renewable energy and energy storage sector.

The ENSA project will officially begin on 1 October 2026 and will run until 30 September 2029.

Official launch of ENSA: Zadar Energija begins implementing project activities

Today, 1 October 2026, the implementation of the project European Energy Storage Alliance for innovative interregional investments in renewable energy value chains – ENSA, officially begins.

Over the next 36 months, ENSA will bring together technology developers, renewable energy operators, research institutions, SMEs, regional development agencies and public-sector organisations from across Europe. The project aims to accelerate the development, demonstration and market deployment of innovative energy storage solutions and to strengthen cooperation between regions with different levels of innovation capacity.

ENSA is funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3), Topic I3-2025-INV1. The project is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and coordinated by Consorcio Agencia Extremeña de la Energía – AGENEX from Spain.

The project will run until 30 September 2029, with a total value of EUR 10,016,948.35 and a maximum EU contribution of EUR 7,128,863.84.

As Project Partner 17, Zadar Energija has a total project budget of EUR 357,863.65, including an EU contribution of EUR 250,504.55.

Innovative energy storage solutions

ENSA responds to one of the key challenges of the energy transition – the growing need for efficient energy storage solutions that support the integration of renewable energy sources and improve grid flexibility.

The project will demonstrate and further develop innovative energy storage technologies, including superconducting magnetic energy storage, flywheel systems, sodium-ion batteries, green hydrogen and metal-hydride storage, thermal energy storage and advanced digital energy-management systems. These technologies are intended to respond to different storage needs, ranging from fast-response grid support to medium and long-duration energy storage. Their performance will be tested in operational environments in order to assess technical reliability, scalability, interoperability and market potential. The project will also examine the extent to which individual solutions can be replicated in different regional, regulatory and market conditions. Particular attention will be given to connecting technological development with business models, investment readiness and future commercial deployment.

ENSA also aims to support or initiate interregional energy storage investments with a combined value exceeding EUR 80 million. In this context, the project will contribute to stronger links between technology providers, renewable energy companies, investors, public authorities and regional innovation ecosystems.

Zadar Energija’s role in ENSA

Zadar Energija will participate in activities related to technical assessment, knowledge transfer, stakeholder cooperation and investment support.

Its main responsibilities include:

· assessment of the transferability and potential application of a hybrid SMES and battery storage demonstrationin Croatian community-scale energy systems and smart-grid solutions;

· preparation of a good-practice report on energy storage deployment;

· development of implementation guidelines for regional stakeholder focus groups;

· preparation of operational guidelines for four ENSA Investment Hubs, connecting companies, research organisations, public authorities and potential investors.

Through these activities, Zadar Energija will contribute to the exchange of knowledge and practical experience between participating regions and to the identification of opportunities for the wider use of energy storage solutions.

Participation in ENSA will also provide Zadar Energija with access to European expertise and innovative technologies that can support the future development of renewable energy and storage systems in Croatia. At the same time, the company will contribute its own practical knowledge and experience related to renewable energy development, regional cooperation and the challenges associated with integrating variable renewable energy sources into the electricity system.

With the official start of ENSA today, a three-year European cooperation initiative begins, focused on bringing innovative energy storage technologies closer to the market, supporting future investment and strengthening European renewable energy and storage value chains.

Read more: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/44416173/101309815/I3?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=title&isExactMatch=true&frameworkProgramme=44416173

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