Croatia to fund €400–450 million transmission build for Pantheon AI campus near Topusko

Croatia’s planned Pantheon AI campus in Topusko is moving from concept toward grid delivery, with a major transmission investment designed to ensure the future data center has reliable power. The scale of the build matters for investors because it links one of the country’s most ambitious technology projects to a specific, capital-intensive network modernization timeline.

Transmission spend and secured financing

Project representatives said dedicated power infrastructure is a prerequisite for the future AI data center, which is estimated to be worth around $50 billion. They put the energy component—including transmission systems—at between €400 million and €450 million.

Project lead Mario Gudelj and Dalekovod Group CEO Bruno Štambak, whose company is involved through a Končar Group partnership, said financing for the transmission infrastructure has already been secured. The current plan still targets first operational users entering the facility in the first quarter of 2029.

A new 400 kV network built for redundancy

The planned electricity network includes a new 400 kV transmission system comprising four lines spanning roughly 300 kilometers, plus a new transformer station expected to become the largest in Croatia. Once completed, the assets are intended to be transferred to HOPS, Croatia’s transmission system operator.

Developers emphasized redundancy and reliability standards. While the AI campus is expected to require about 1 GW of electricity, they said the supporting infrastructure will be built with significantly higher capacity margins: each transmission line is planned to handle approximately 1.3 GW to support long-term operational stability.

Power supply via long-term PPAs

Electricity procurement is also structured differently from typical wholesale exposure. The project will primarily rely on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) rather than direct participation in Croatia’s wholesale electricity market. One PPA has already been signed with Greenvolt, with additional supply expected from various renewable energy developers.

The planned generation mix includes solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower, alongside future battery storage systems intended to improve flexibility and grid balancing. Developers estimate that meeting annual electricity demand will ultimately require around 2 GW of renewable generation capacity.

Grid benefits and response to shortage concerns

Backers argue the project could strengthen Croatia’s wider electricity system by enabling integration of more than 5 GW of additional renewable projects currently waiting in development pipelines.

Project officials also dismissed concerns that the campus could trigger electricity shortages or materially distort market prices. Their case rests on expectations for growth in domestic power generation capacity over the coming years.