We are proud to announce the platinum sponsor of the Dani OIE 2024 conference: DRI
As a advocate for sustainable energy solutions, DRI is committed to driving innovation and promoting renewable energy sources. Supporting our conference underscores our shared commitment to advancing the renewable energy sector and fostering discussions on sustainable practices. In order to present them to the general public, we present an interview with the CEO of DRI, John Stuart.
CEO of DRI, John Stuart
When was the company founded and where does it recognize the greatest potential in Croatia and the region
DRI was founded in 2021. We focus on countries with development potential, with excellent renewable resource, and where we can make a real difference, leveraging our flexible capital structure and the deep expertise of a DRI team of professionals from 20 countries
Croatia is one of DRI’s target markets and it has the ambition to build up to 500MW in renewables in the country.
What specific renewable energy sources does your company focus on?
We are investing in and building onshore wind, solar and battery storage projects.
Can you provide examples of successful projects your company has completed?
We have two projects in operations in Romania, a 60 MWp wind park in Ruginoasa and a 53 MWp solar farm in Glodeni municipalities The Ruginoasa wind park was the first wind park built in a decade in the country. We built it in just 10 months in 2023.
We have a further six projects in a development stage, and many more in the pipeline across Croatia, Italy, Poland, and Romania.
In March, we announced the signing of a deal to acquire a battery storage project in Poland, which will give us the right to build a 133 MW battery storage facility in the south of the country, subject to regulatory approvals. This is the first large-scale battery storage project in the country and marks DRI’s first major infrastructure investment in the Polish market.
DRI is the European renewable energy subsidiary of DTEK Group, Ukraine largest private energy company. We also draw upon the expertise and the successes of the Group’s renewable projects of over 1GW of wind and solar farm projects comissioned in Ukraine during the last decade.
How does your company contribute to local communities and the overall societal transition towards renewable energy?
DRI actively seeks initiatives in key areas such as education, health, and environment protection.
To ensure our efforts have a lasting impact, we work with local NGOs and stakeholders to identify the specific needs of communities in Romania, Italy, Croatia, and Poland. This enables us to tailor our initiatives to address the most pressing issues and create meaningful, sustainable change in the communities where we operate.
While we are still developing a robust framework for the NGO partners, we are already actively involved in supporting local communities. For example, in Ruginoasa, Romania, we partnered with a local initiative group to build a playground for children.
Our commitment is to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels and to move towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. And in achieving this, we are committed to upholding best practice in sustainability and health and safety.
You can read more about our commitments, here: Our commitment — DRI (dri-energy.com)
How does your company stay updated with the latest technology and innovations in renewable energy?
Firstly, DRI has deep in-house engineering and energy expertise, so our people bring a lot of experience when it comes to technology and innovation in the sector.
Furthermore, DRI is a member of various associations in the countries it operates in, including RES in Croatia. These associations are great sources for updates on regulations and innovations. DRI colleagues also attend many events within Europe to network and stay informed.
What are your future plans for growth and expansion?
DRI has the goal to create a portfolio of 5GW of renewable energy and battery storage by 2028.
It aims to do that through the acquisition of greenfield projects and portfolios, from early-stage to ready-to-build; and partnerships with local developers. DRI continually looks for opportunities in underserved markets.
Join us in Pula, Croatia at the Dani OIE conference from June 12-14 to explore together the latest trends, technologies and advances in renewable energy.
Registrations are available at the following link – DaniOIE
Find more information HERE.
