Supernova thinks green!

As project promoter, Supernova projekti d.o.o. has been awarded grants to implement a project for the increase of the share of renewable energy sources in the Supernova shopping centers’ total energy consumption in Sisak. The project will be implemented using funds from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism, and the construction of the photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of the Supernova shopping centers in Sisak will contribute to the European Green Plan.

The Supernova Group member companies – Supernova projekti d.o.o. and Supernova Sisak West d.o.o., as well as partner company Sirius Sisak East d.o.o. – plan to implement three pilot projects for the construction of integrated photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of Supernova Sisak East and Supernova Sisak West. The execution of the project will last a year. One of the main objectives of the project is to promote the use of renewable energy sources in the trade sector in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the security of supply, and contribute to the European Green Plan.

This latest investment is a continuation of the green transition by Supernova Group and its partners. Where possible, they are switching to using electricity from photovoltaic power plants in other Croatian Supernova shopping centers as well. Only recently, a similar project was launched in Šibenik, while the shopping centers in Karlovac and Buzin are presently doing preparatory work.

The total value of the latest projects involving the Supernova shopping centers in Sisak is more than EUR 628,000, i.e. nearly HRK 5 million. The European Funds will cover 41.64 percent of the project’s total value, i.e. just under HRK 2 million or EUR 261,564.08, to be exact. The remaining costs will be covered by the project promoter and partners.

The project proposes building three integrated photovoltaic power plants, SE Sisak East, SE-1 Sisak West, and SE-2 Sisak West, with a total installed capacity of 722.42 kWp, which will produce 751,224 kWh of renewable energy per year. Accordingly, the project will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the amount of 119.14 tCO2 per year. Moreover, with these photovoltaic power plants, Supernova Sisak West will cover 30 percent of its total energy consumption, while Supernova Sisak East is looking at covering 40 percent of its total energy consumption with these renewable energy sources.

“Several years ago we launched the green transition project and decided to switch to our own energy sources. I am really pleased with the fact that we are implementing this project in Croatia as well, as the Croatian market is extremely important to us business-wise. At the moment, the energy produced on the roofs of our shopping centers covers more than 35 percent of the energy necessary for the centers’ operations and supply. With this investment in Sisak, worth nearly HRK 5 million, and the implementation of our group’s green and sustainable programs, we and our project partners will help reduce environmental pollution and improve the quality of life in all the communities and countries where Supernova shopping centers operate in line with strict environmental standards,” said Markus Pinggera, Managing Director, Supernova Group.

Shopping centers everywhere have seen an increase in their energy needs, at the same time generating rising energy costs that are negatively affecting business and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Guided by the principles of sustainable growth and responsible management, Supernova Group and its project partners, Supernova Sisak West, Sirius Sisak East, and Norway-based Åpenhet, want to replace the conventional fuels used by the Supernova shopping centers with the more affordable and sustainable renewable solar energy.

Since the very beginning, and particularly over the last couple of years, Supernova Group has been focused on achieving a green future, and its operations have been based on a sustainable and environmentally friendly development, supported by the sustainability program titled Supernova Green Dot. The goal of the program is to optimize the group’s business practices and enable achieving full carbon neutrality by 2028. The Supernova Green Dot program is based on LED technology, energy efficiency program, and equipping photovoltaic power plants to produce our own green electric energy.

So far, a total of 23 photovoltaic powers plants have been installed on the roofs of different Supernova shopping centers in Austria  and Slovenia, and Supernova Group plans to install 56 new photovoltaic power plants within the group by the end of 2023.

Implementing the project in Sisak will result in increasing the installed capacity for energy production from renewable sources in the local Supernova shopping centers. The group will thereby contribute to the expansion of photovoltaic power plants in Croatia and the strengthening of the capacity for management and promotion of renewable energy sources. Supernova projekti d.o.o. is the project promoter, while the project partners include Supernova Sisak West d.o.o., owner of the Supernova Sisak West shopping center and member of Supernova Group, Sirius Sisak East d.o.o., owner of the Supernova Sisak East shopping center, and Norway’s Åpenhet.

The Energy and Climate Change program is managed by the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds and Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation. The program’s donor partners are Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.