In the Bilogora hills of Croatia, locally sourced biomass is helping industries access renewable heat, creating opportunities for local businesses and giving forestry and agricultural residues a valuable new purpose.

To celebrate Croatia’s Bioenergy Day on 5 November, we revisit the story of Elektrana Grubišno Polje, a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant demonstrating how renewable energy can support local communities and contribute to a more resilient energy system.

Turning local resources into renewable energy

The plant uses forestry and agricultural biomass collected within a 65 km radius, including materials from forest maintenance, roadside clearing and agricultural activities. By transforming these resources into renewable energy, the facility supports the circular bioeconomy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

With an electrical capacity of 5 MW, the plant generates renewable electricity alongside useful heat, which supports local economic activities.

Through its adjacent Sirocco facility, equipped with 20 drying kilns, the plant provides heat for the local wood-processing industry. New partnerships are also being developed to supply renewable heat to agricultural businesses, including for chamomile drying.

These examples demonstrate how biomass can provide reliable, locally produced energy while creating value for businesses and communities.

From renewable heat to trigeneration

For Laurent Sessa, CEO of Elektrana Grubišno Polje and Vice-President of the Croatian Biomass Association (CROBIOM), the potential of bioenergy goes even further.

The company is developing trigeneration, a technology that makes it possible to produce electricity, heat and cooling from the same energy source. This could allow the facility to use renewable heat for data centre cooling, opening new opportunities to maximise the use of biomass energy.

The company is also exploring bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which could enable permanent carbon removals in the future.

As Croatia celebrates its Bioenergy Day, Elektrana Grubišno Polje shows how locally sourced biomass can support industrial activity, energy security and innovation, while creating new opportunities for rural communities.

Discover the full story: In an interview with Bioenergy Europe, Laurent Sessa shares his experience developing the project, its benefits for the region and his vision for the future of bioenergy in Croatia.

Read the full interview: Where Biomass Meets Ambition: Croatia’s Energy Pioneer