The increasing integration of decentralised renewable energy sources (RES) both in the regions of Slovenia and Croatia has led to a lack of flexibility resources needed to regulate the electricity system. In 2014, the transmission system operators (HOPS and ELES) and distribution system operators (HEP ODS and SODO) of Croatia and Slovenia began to search for joint solutions. The most promising appeared to be the establishment of international cooperation in setting up smart grids – and the idea of the SINCRO.GRID project was born.
Croatia and Slovenia decided to present the project to the European Commission (EC) as a proposal for a Project of Common Interest (PCI) in the field of smart grids. In 2015 the EC included the project on the PCI list. The contract "Action n° 10.3-0022-SIHR-W-M-16 Implementation of the SINCRO.GRID PCI – Phase 1 " on co-financing of the project by the EC was signed in Brussels on 22 May 2017.
The SINCRO.GRID - Phase 1 smart grid project offers an innovative integration of mature technologies that will be beneficial to the electricity systems of Slovenia and Croatia as well as to the countries in the region. The project includes the deployment of compensation devices, an advanced dynamic thermal rating system, a battery electricity storage system, as well as a virtual cross-border control centre.