The Volunteer Fire Department Špičkovina

18 members. Established in 2023

A business plan to…

Energy community Špičkovina is Croatia's first Citizen Energy Community built on the model of an existing volunteer fire department (VFD), bringing affordable, locally produced solar power to the rural area in the City of Zabok. A photovoltaic plant on the roof of the VFD Špičkovina fire station, financed by the City of Zabok, already delivers clean energy to 18 members, with capacity growing from 40 kWp to a planned 120 kWp. Our roadmap adds battery storage, heat pumps for member households, and a support fund for vulnerable residents and households experiencing energy poverty, proving that community-owned renewable energy can be built on trust, volunteerism, and local solidarity.

Impact in the community

EC Špičkovina delivers measurable impact: 9.7 tCO₂ saved annually (291 tCO₂ over 30 years), around EUR 7,000 in combined annual member savings, and support for 18 members: individuals, the fire department, and a local microenterprise, including a planned fund for energy-poor households. Governed democratically (1 member, 1 vote) with fully transparent reporting, the project also contributes directly to the City of Zabok's climate action plan (SECAP).