July the 30th, 2025 – Lekenik is set to become the very first entirely solar village in all of Croatia. The project’s implementation is set to begin next month.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a highly commendable project which also carries with it a far wider meaning has been officially launched. It will see Lekenik (SOS Children’s Village/Dječje selo) transformed into the first solar village in Croatia. The cooperation agreement for this project was signed by the Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ), Raiffeisen Bank, Biomasa Group and Kufner Group. Its total value stands at 340,000 euros.
As touched on above, the project’s implementation will begin in August 2025, and that includes the construction of a solar power plant and the installation of solar panels on all of the houses in the village. The project will continue throughout 2026, with the aim of creating a more sustainable and energy-independent environment for all of the children who live there.
The funds will be invested in the construction of a solar power plant at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Social Centre, and the installation of solar systems on every SOS house across Lekenik. This will enable the village to become completely energy independent and significantly reduce all of its energy costs.
The director of ZEZ, Zoran Kordić, emphasised that the project to turn Lekenik into the first solar village in all of Croatia also has a much broader meaning. “This project is a fantastic example of how energy can be placed in the hands of the public and the local community. In addition to achieving considerable savings, this represents a contribution to energy security, independence, education and the encouragement of a sustainable lifestyle among the youngest members of society.”
Donors also expressed their satisfaction with this praiseworthy project: “We’re becoming a symbol of sustainability and responsibility for the future of children. I’d like to send out my heartfelt thanks to all of the participants in this project for their commendable donations,” said Marinka Šenjug from SOS Children’s Village.
