Croatia has emerged as one of the European Union’s most air conditioning dependent nations, with electricity consumption for cooling rising faster than the bloc’s average as scorching heatwaves become the new normal. According to Eurostat data, energy used for space cooling in EU households doubled between 2018 and 2024, climbing from 40.5 thousand terajoules to 80.4 thousand terajoules. While Italy, Spain, and Greece recorded the highest absolute consumption, Croatia ranked among the top tier alongside Cyprus, Malta, and Italy for the share of household electricity devoted to cooling, a trend driven by coastal tourism, urban expansion, and rising living standards.
The pressure on Croatia’s power grid is already visible. During the July 2024 heatwave, the country set an all time electricity demand record of 3,381 megawatts at 7:30 p.m., a time when solar generation was fading but cooling demand remained intense. Historically, peak loads occurred in winter, since 2015, summer peaks have become the norm on nine of ten occasions. Croatia imported up to 35% of its electricity during the worst moments, with prices spiking above 300 euros per megawatt hour for 31 hours. The mismatch between renewable generation and cooling demand is acute, solar panels produce well during afternoon peaks but cease output by 7:30 p.m., while wind generation typically drops during heatwaves.
Croatia is betting heavily on solar to bridge the gap. The country has invested in expanding photovoltaic capacity, which experts note is well suited to daytime cooling demand, and is projected to grow from 200 megawatts in 2024 to 1,500 megawatts by 2030. By then, simulations suggest Croatia could reduce summer electricity imports from 27% to just 1.6% and raise its renewable share of demand from 39% to nearly 55%. Yet the challenge extends beyond generation. Energy experts warn that without better insulated buildings, more efficient cooling technologies, and smarter grids capable of managing sharp afternoon peaks, the surge in air conditioning will continue straining infrastructure and household budgets. As climate scientists predict hotter summers across southern Europe, cooling is shifting from luxury to necessity, and the test for Croatia will be ensuring that rising demand is met by clean, affordable, and reliable power rather than fossil fuel imports during the hottest hours.
