Jems
On Thursday, 5th December 2024, Karlovac hosted the launch conference of the SMART DeCARB project – Smart Sector Coupling for Decarbonisation of Public Buildings. The project is coordinated by REGEA, the Regional Energy and Climate Agency of Northwest Croatia, with project partners including Karlovac County, the Development Agency of Una-Sana Canton (RAUSK), the City of Bihać, and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis from Nikšić. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro program. The project’s aim is to decarbonize public buildings by developing technical solutions and digital tools for energy efficiency, ensuring long-term benefits for local communities across the three countries.
With a total budget of €1.3 million, SMART DeCARB includes pilot investments in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. A significant contribution of the project will be the development of decarbonization models for various types of public buildings, ensuring broad applicability of the results. At the same time, Regional decarbonization centers are planned to be established in Karlovac, Bihać, and Nikšić. These centers will support future projects, foster knowledge dissemination, and facilitate the replication of results.
The conference in Karlovac brought together key stakeholders from the region under the theme “A Path Towards a Sustainable Future Through the Decarbonization of Public Buildings.” During the opening session, speakers included Dr. Vesna Hajsan Dolinar, Deputy Prefect of Karlovac County; Dr. Julije Domac from REGEA; Elvedin Sedić, Mayor of Bihać; and Anđela Nikčević, representing IEC Technopolis from Montenegro. Project manager Vedrana Vidiček presented the goals and activities of SMART DeCARB, while Marina Škunca from the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation for achieving climate neutrality.
The pilot investments involve the modernization of three buildings: the Mixed Industrial and Craft School in Karlovac, the administrative building of the City of Bihać, and the Technopolis Innovation Center in Nikšić. These investments include the installation of solar power plants with battery systems, indoor air quality monitoring sensors, electric vehicle charging stations, and smart benches. Additionally, the City of Bihać will install a heat pump, while Technopolis will acquire an electric vehicle. These investments will test technical solutions and assess their economic feasibility, energy performance, and environmental impact.
The conference featured three panel discussions addressing key topics related to decarbonization. The first panel, focusing on EU projects as support for climate-neutral buildings, brought together representatives from REGEA, the City of Karlovac, and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. The second panel discussion explored the technical aspects of decarbonization, while the third panel reviewed financial opportunities for projects in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Participants concluded that the implementation of green technologies, education, and the empowerment of local communities play a crucial role in the energy transition. The activities of the SMART DeCARB project will provide a solid foundation for future initiatives, contributing to the realization of European climate goals.
More info about project you can find HERE.
