Signed Agreement on the development of smart systems for energy decarbonization

The Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the City of Rijeka and the Rijeka Faculty of Technology have signed an agreement on cooperation on the development of smart energy decarbonization systems, which will develop CO2-neutral areas of local and regional self-government and encourage, among other things, strategic planning for the decarbonization of the energy sector, the use of energy from renewable sources, sustainable use of own natural resources and reduction of the impact of fossil fuel use.

The agreement was signed in the headquarters of Primorje-Gorski Kotar region by Prefect Zlatko Komadina, Mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović and Dean of the Technical Faculty Lado Kranjčević

stressing that the signatories found a common language very quickly, which resulted in the realization of this document in a short period of time.

"Hydrocarbons will be in use for a certain period of time, until all renewable energy sources have matured, but we must prepare, both the City of Rijeka and the area of ​​the county, for the transition to a green plan in the shortest possible period, and act with our knowledge and expertise to ensure a healthier environment and to leave a cleaner planet for generations to come", said the prefect.

Similar views were expressed by the mayor, reminding that based on European regulations, it is the permanent obligation of the City and County to reduce CO2 emissions, which is also one of the key policies of the EU.

"The implementation of all decisions and laws is reduced to the local level. In 2009, the City of Rijeka signed the Agreement that regulates the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, and in 2019 it strengthened it with additional signatures in Brussels. We strive to comply with this with concrete projects such as solar power plants, increasing the efficiency of heating systems, purchasing new environmentally friendly buses, etc.," said the mayor.

Dean Kranjčević emphasized that now is the right moment for the Agreement, because we are entering a dynamic era as far as energy is concerned.

"The geopolitical situation itself accelerated the process of transition from hydrocarbons to green energy sources. In the next period, we must think about wind farms, solar and virtual power plants, cogeneration plants, electric systems for powering cars and energy storage in hydrogen, in which, bearing in mind the specific position of Rijeka, we can achieve progress, and Rijeka can position itself at the level of Croatia as a leader in the energy transition", said the dean.

Vice-Rector for Digitization and Development of the University of Rijeka, Senka Matešić, on behalf of Rector Snježana Prijić Samaržija, expressed the University's strong support for this collaboration, which contributes to the UN's sustainable development goals, which is in line with university policies and practices.