Drage studentice i studenti,

pozivamo vas na kratko predavanje o stručnoj udruzi CIGRE te mogućnostima koje članstvo u CIGRE-u pruža studentima.

Predavanje će održati glavni tajnik HRO CIGRE-a, dr. sc. Goran Slipac.

Vrijeme i mjesto:

• Kada: petak, 16. siječnja u 11:15
• Gdje: Siva vijećnica (FER), prizemlje

Planirano trajanje predavanja je 30 minuta, nakon čega slijedi 15 minuta za pitanja i raspravu.

CIGRE je svjetska organizacija za velike elektroenergetske sustave čije djelovanje obuhvaća razvoj, izgradnju, pogon i održavanje elektroenergetskih postrojenja. Sjedište joj je u Parizu, a jedna od podružnica postoji i u Hrvatskoj (HRO CIGRE).

Wait—again? We ended up with the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree? Honestly, not surprised… we do have the best little helpers! Thanks, guys, for keeping this sweet tradition alive. 🎄

Our Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, Professor Tomislav Capuder and professor Igor Kuzle, Head of the Smart Grid Lab, took part in organizing and delivering lectures at the HO CIRED seminar. The seminar covered key technologies shaping the future of power networks: LP STATCOM, grid-forming BESS, power quality, and power electronics.

The panel Agrosolar and aquasolar – energy that feeds us was one of the most forward-looking and inspiring discussions at the ZG Green Energy Fair 2025, moderated by Ana-Marija Špicnagel. It brought together experts from energy, agriculture, and environmental science to explore how energy, food, and water can grow together instead of competing for space.

🌱 Professor Ninoslav Holjevac from FER reminded everyone that energy projects must now treat environmental protection as a fundamental part of their design, noting that agrosolar systems will soon formally enter environmental impact assessments in Croatia. In that line he presented ongoing SHADOW project financed by the EU funds.

🌱 From the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, professor Marko Karoglan explained how vineyards are adapting to climate change, showing that agrosolar installations are a natural evolution of traditional shading systems that now also generate electricity.

🌱 Professor Goran Krajacic from University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture highlighted the potential of floating solar systems to connect hydropower, water management and renewable generation. These hybrid systems can reduce evaporation and increase hydro output by up to 20 percent, while avoiding land use conflicts. Zoran Poljanec from Oikon Ltd. - Institute of Applied Ecology emphasized that agrosolar projects are installed above perennial crops and have no negative effect on soil or biodiversity.

🌱 Marina Prusina and Mislav Kontek from EnergoVizija Ltd. underlined how multidisciplinary teams are driving this sector forward and shared that around 500 MW of agrosolar and aquasolar projects are already in development in Croatia. Their approach proves that the technology is ready, and it is time for faster procedures and stronger coordination between sectors.

This panel showed that the future of energy, water and agriculture is shared, and that sustainability begins where these worlds meet. ⚡ 💧 🫒

On 21st November 2025, the Hrvatska zaklada za znanost (Croatian Science Foundation) has ceremonially presented and awarded contracts for 11 exceptional research projects selected under the public call of the MAPS – Multilateral Joint Research Projects program, an international program aimed at strengthening top-level research through multilateral cooperation.

We are proud that one of these top-quality projects is from FER (Department of Energy and Power Systems). Project WISE (Wind turbine lightning safety evaluation) involves research teams from three countries:

➡️ Croatia: project leader assoc. prof. Božidar Filipović-Grčić, University of Zagreb / Sveučilište u Zagrebu FER; partners: University of Split, assist. prof. Antonio Šunjerga, industry partner company ENCRO d.o.o.

➡️ Switzerland: project leader assoc. prof. Davide Pavanello (Institute for sustainable Energy, School of engineering, University of applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland), prof. Farhad Rachidi and prof. Marcos Rubinstein (EPFL, Lausanne).

➡️ Poland: assoc. prof. Grzegorz Maslowski - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Fundamentals, Rzeszow University of Technology

The general objective of the project is to provide new recommendations to standardization bodies to better protect wind farms against lightning. To achieve this final goal, the project aims to realize the following specific objectives:
💡 Establish a state-of-the-art wind-turbine lightning observatory in Croatia to obtain reliable statistical data on upward lightning to wind turbines.
💡 Better understand the mechanisms of the initiation of upward flashes from wind turbines and the differences with respect to static tall structures.
💡 Evaluate the impact of upward lightning current on composite materials and develop more resilient ones.

As part of the graduate course Energy Policy Analysis and Modelling, we organized a professional study trip for our second-year master’s students. The goal of the visit was to provide students with hands-on insights into real-world energy infrastructures and contemporary operational practices in the Croatian power system.

During the excursion, students had the opportunity to visit several key facilities:

• Hydropower Plant Ozalj (HE Ozalj)
  Students learned about the plant’s historical development, operational principles, and the role of hydropower within the national energy mix. Colleagues from HEP provided detailed explanations of turbine operation, dispatching procedures, and modern monitoring systems used to ensure safe and reliable production.
• Biomass Cogeneration Plant BE-TO Karlovac
  At the biomass CHP facility, students were introduced to sustainable heat and electricity production from locally sourced biomass. The BE-TO team explained fuel preparation, combustion technology, emission control, and the importance of cogeneration for increasing overall energy efficiency.
• Substation Ozalj 25/10 kV and Substation Dubovac 110/10(20)/10 kV
  Through guided tours of these substations, students gained a clearer understanding of transmission and distribution system topology, transformer configurations, protection systems, and the practical challenges of maintaining grid stability. HEP experts walked them through operational safety procedures and real-time system control.

The visit provided valuable practical experience, complementing the theoretical concepts covered in class and strengthening students’ understanding of how energy policies interact with technical, economic, and operational aspects of the power system.

Zainteresiranim studentima prenosimo sljedeću vijest:

Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. raspisala je Natječaj za dodjelu stipendija redovnim studentima za akademsku godinu 2025./2026.

Pozivamo zainteresirane da se od 27. listopada 2025. do 16. studenog 2025. godine prijave na natječaj kojim će osigurati svoje prvo radno mjesto i vrijednu priliku za profesionalni razvoj u vodećoj hrvatskoj kompaniji.

NATJEČAJ ZA DODJELU STIPENDIJA REDOVNIM STUDENTIMA ZA ŠKOLSKU GODINU 2025./2026.

Natječaj se raspisuje za ukupno 62 stipendije.

Interes mogu iskazati redovni studenti visokih učilišta u Republici Hrvatskoj koji su u akademskoj godini 2025./2026. upisali 3. godinu prijediplomskog, 1. ili 2. godinu diplomskog studija tehničkih znanosti (polja elektrotehnika, strojarstvo, računarstvo, geodezija), čijim završetkom se stječe najmanje 300 ECTS bodova.

Dokumenti:

tekst Natječaja za dodjelu stipendija redovnim studentima diplomskih studija za akademsku godinu 2025./2026. (PDF)

obrazac za prijavu na Natječaj za dodjelu stipendija redovnim studentima diplomskih studija za akademsku godinu 2025./2026.  (DOCX)

Fotografija preuzeta sa HEP stranice. 

📢 We are pleased to announce that the Croatian Section of IEEE, together with Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb (FER), organized the 125th IEEE Region 8 Committee Meeting held in the beautiful city of Dubrovnik from 18-19 October 2025. IEEE Region 8

It was a fantastic opportunity to bring together IEEE members and committee delegates, share knowledge, and strengthen our technical community in the Europe, Middle East & Africa region. We are grateful to all participants and partners who made this gathering a success.

Looking forward to continuing collaboration, innovation and growth within IEEE and beyond!

Our assistant, Franjo Vuković, attended the URSI Asia–Pacific Radio Science Conference in Sydney, Australia from August 17-22, 2025. He presented the paper “Lightning Polarity and Upward Flash Statistics on a Wind Turbine in Croatia Based on Current Measurements” in the Lightning and Related Phenomena session, coauthored with Associate Professor Božidar Filipović-Grčić and Bojan Franc. The paper has also been published in URSI Radio Science Letters (RSL).