The AI development and innovation centre Topusko – Project Pantheon, valued at more than €50 billion, was presented on Tuesday at the Three Seas Initiative business forum in Dubrovnik, where a letter of intent was also signed between investors and the Končar Group.
The project envisions a state-of-the-art 1 GW data centre operating above the highest EU “Tier 4″ standard. In partnership with its strategic partner Končar Group, the centre will build a new substation and 280 km of transmission lines. Strategic partner Greenvolt will build a 500 MW solar power plant dedicated solely to the facility.
According to the presentation, the associated investment in Croatia’s power transmission system will strengthen grid stability and enable the connection of up to 5.2 GW of currently unused renewable energy capacity. The centre is also expected to expand the role of private electricity producers, potentially lowering prices for households and businesses.
The centre will use its own water sources, independent of the public water and sewage system. Cooling will rely on evaporation technology that does not alter water chemistry, with excess water returned to nature via absorption wells. Significant investment is also planned in road infrastructure and fibre-optic networks.
Total infrastructure investments provided to the state and local authorities are estimated at around €500 million. The project is expected to create over 3,000 jobs during construction, 1,500 once operational, and indirectly support around 6,000 additional jobs.
Construction is planned for 2027, with operations expected to begin in early 2029.
Domestic industry and experts behind data centre project
Croatian partner and co-owner Jako Andabak said the project places Croatia “at the very top of European and global technology”, adding that it was designed and will largely be delivered by domestic experts and industry.
“We chose Topusko because we already own land there where it is possible to implement a project that will not harm the environment,” Andabak said. “By building a robust and high-quality grid, we have created conditions for stable and secure electricity supply without environmental impact, as confirmed by a study. The Municipality of Topusko and Sisak-Moslavina County will certainly benefit significantly from this.”
The US investors’ representative, Ryan Rich, described Croatia as a safe, politically stable country with educated people and strong work ethic, adding that the combination of American capital and Croatian expertise would deliver the project and attract further investment.
Končar CEO Gordan Kolak said the company will participate in building the substation, transmission lines, and supplying key electrical equipment, including transformers as well as in building the data centre.
He said the letter of intent signals serious plans for a series of contracts and that the project would significantly reshape Croatia’s energy system by strengthening infrastructure and accelerating the shift toward renewables.
The AI project was designed by Mislav Crnogorac of Parsec Lab. An engineer with extensive experience at leading global technology companies including Amazon, Vertiv and Emerson, Crnogorac has designed more than 50 data centres worldwide.
“This is the largest project in Croatia since the country’s post-war reconstruction. It places us in the EU top five. We mostly work on projects abroad, so we are grateful that this is happening in Croatia,” he said. “At least 50 engineers will work on the project… The environmental impact assessment has shown that the impact will be minimal. As for electricity consumption, the Croatian power grid will be strengthened to support this project, and this upgraded grid will also enable the integration of large amounts of renewable energy,” said Crnogorac.
