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Šoštanj – In the town of Šoštanj in northeastern Slovenia, an initiative to set up the country’s first floating solar power plant, which will stand on the surface of Lake Šoštanj or Lake Družmir, was presented to the public. As stated by the largest Slovenian electricity producer Holding Slovenske elektrarne (HSE), this is an important project in the context of the green transition and restructuring of the Savinja-Šalek region. The timeline for the installation is not yet known.
The floating solar power plant with an estimated peak power of up to 140 megawatts and an estimated production of around 140 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually is planned to cover up to half of the lake’s available surface. According to the plans, it would cover the electricity supply for approximately 35,000 households.
According to HSE, the solar power plant does not cause emissions of harmful substances, and access to water will be possible along the entire lake shore. Together with the installation of the floating solar power plant, possibilities for arranging the lake surroundings for tourism, sports, and recreation purposes will also be ensured.
The Savinja-Šalek region, where the coal mine and the Šoštanj thermal power plant are located, plays an important role in Slovenia’s energy supply. However, its restructuring has already begun within the framework of the green transition, for which funds from the European Just Transition Fund are also available. The closure of the Velenje coal mine is planned for 2033. (June 3)