Renewables

High geothermal energy potential confirmed in Croatia’s north

High geothermal energy potential Croatia north

Photo: Hydrocarbon Agency

Published

November 9, 2021

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

November 9, 2021

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

The Varaždin county in Croatia’s north could become energy independent with the production of power and heat from geothermal sources, as the first research results showed great potential.

A feasibility study conducted for exploration area Lunjkovec-Kutnjak in the north of Croatia confirmed the potential for the production of large amounts of electricity and heat. Such a plant could cover the entire needs of the Varaždin country and spur economic development, Večernji list reported.

The drillholes with water temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius are located in the Mali Bukovec municipality. The government issued the research license one year ago to a local firm called Bukotermal. The Varaždin Country holds 85% of ownership while the Municipality of Mali Bukovec controls the remainder.

The enterprise is tasked with using the geothermal sources for the production of electricity as well as for heating households and industry purposes, but the heating could also be used for greenhouses and the development of spa centers.

Possibilities for getting government, EU funds

The Varaždin County intends to submit the project for funding under the Sjever development program, worth a total of EUR 2 billion. The article adds the local authority also hopes to get financing from the European Union.

Bukotermal will build a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 1.5 MW to 2 MW in the first phase with the intention to complete it in 2025. The project is worth EUR 10 million, the Varaždin Country said and added the next step would be to install a 10 MW power plant.

The Lunjkovec-Kutnjak research area spans 100 square kilometers, and the boreholes are from 1976. and 1969. They are very near to the construction site of the AAT Geothermae geothermal heat and power plant in Draškovec.

Croatia only has one functional geothermal power plant

Vladislav Brkić, Dean of the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering in Zagreb, pointed out the oil industry has drilled more than 4,000 holes and wells for oil and gas and that some of them can be used to pump geothermal waters, but also to store hydrogen. He is also the president of the recently founded national geothermal energy association HUGE.

The government’s Hydrocarbon Agency (CHA) estimates the potential for electricity production from geothermal sources in Croatia at 500 MW. There is only one geothermal power plant in the country – Velika 1 in nearby Ciglena in the Bjelovar area. There are several other projects under development in Croatia.

Ensolx from Zagreb is currently looking for a partner company to develop and build the Merhatovec geothermal power plant in the Međimurje area, also not far from Draškovec and Mali Bukovec. The facility is envisaged to have a capacity of at least 10 MW.

According to some estimates, geothermal energy could cover the entire heating demand in Zagreb.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Turkey offshore wind power potential 2040 estimated 7 GW

Turkey’s offshore wind power potential by 2040 estimated at 7 GW

12 November 2024 - The World Bank Group and Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources outlined the 2040 scenarios for the potential for the country's first offshore wind farms

Third battery auction proclaimed in Greece for 200 MW

Greece kicks off third battery storage auction – for 200 MW

12 November 2024 - issued a public call for the country's third auction for subsidies for standalone battery storage projects

Turkish Chinese joint venture to build two PV plants in Romania YEO Technology

Turkish-Chinese joint venture to build two PV plants in Romania

11 November 2024 - YEO Technology and Chinese company Shanghai Electric Power (SEP) earmarked EUR 65.8 million for two solar power plants in Romania

Global solar power capacity doubles to 2 TW in just two years

Global solar power capacity doubles to 2 TW in just two years

11 November 2024 - The Global Solar Council declared that the 2 TW threshold of total photovoltaic capacity has been reached