Where Biomass Meets Ambition: Croatia’s Energy Pioneer
In this edition of Meet our Members, Laurent Sessa, CEO of Elektrana Grubišno Polje and Vice-President of CROBIOM, explains how a 5 MWe biomass CHP plant in the Bilogora hills (Croatia) is delivering reliable renewable power and local heat services, from industrial wood drying to new agri-food partnerships.
He also shares the project’s next steps, including waste-heat valorisation, trigeneration for data centre cooling, and exploring BECCS, while highlighting why a strong EU policy framework is essential for bioenergy investment in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Where are you based?
I am based in Grubišno Polje, in the Bilogora hills east of Zagreb, Croatia. I came here 9 years ago to build this project, fell in love and settled with my wife. After having lived across the world, I finally settled here.
What does your company do?
Elektrana Grubišno Polje operates a 5 MWe biomass CHP plant generating renewable electricity and heating from forestry and agricultural biomass. Our adjacent Sirocco drying facility, equipped with 20 kilns, provides wood-drying services to the local wood processing industry. We operate under long-term power purchase agreements with the Croatian market operator.
What do you do?
I am CEO of Elektrana Grubišno Polje. I oversee operations, commercial strategy, and development, from fuel sourcing to exploring new revenue streams through waste heat valorisation. I also serve as Vice-President of CROBIOM, the Croatian Biomass Association.
How is your team structured?
We operate with a lean, hands-on team on site. I believe in staying close to the biomass supply chain, the equipment, and the people on the ground. Strategic decisions are taken locally, with the support of our investment partner’s broader platform expertise.
What value do your products and/or services bring to your customers?
We deliver reliable, baseload renewable electricity to the Croatian grid, supporting the country’s 36%+ renewable energy target by 2030. Our Sirocco facility provides industrial drying services, and we are developing new heat-offtake partnerships, including chamomile drying with local agri-food companies, demonstrating the versatility of biomass CHP.
Do your solutions contribute to sustainability, efficiency, or innovation?
Absolutely. Our operations support the circular bioeconomy by valorising forest and agricultural residues. We utilize wood biomass sourced from forest cleaning (including damaged and infected trees), but also biomass from roadside maintenance and agricultural field cleaning. All our biomass is collected within a 65 km radius to minimize CO2 emissions from transport.
How does public policy, especially the European policy framework, impact your business?
The Renewable Energy Directive and Europe’s decarbonisation goals provide the framework underpinning biomass investment. As Vice-President of CROBIOM and a member of Bioenergy Europe’s Board, I work to ensure that the contribution of biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) keeps on being acknowledged as key for the energy transition, both in Brussels and at national level.
What motivated you to join Bioenergy Europe?
With 18 years in the energy sector, from oil and gas to sawmills, pellet production, and biomass power, I’ve seen the full value chain. That convinced me of the need for a strong European voice for bioenergy. My participation in the Board reflects my commitment to bringing Central and South-Eastern European perspectives to the table.
What’s next for your company? Any upcoming projects, innovations, or growth plans?
We are enlarging our Croatian biomass platform with new renewable energy assets in the region. On site, we are developing trigeneration for data centre cooling, advancing agricultural heat partnerships, and evaluating BECCS as a pathway to carbon-negative operations. The ambition is clear: strengthen Croatia’s position as a key player in European bioenergy.
