On Monday, April 29, 2024, the City of Sveta Nedelja hosted the final conference of the project entitled “Development of documentation for the geothermal water exploitation phase in the area of Sveta Nedelja” with the project partners EFLA Consulting Engineers from Iceland and the company EKOPLODOVI from Sveta Nedelja.
The total cost of the project is €355,296.66, of which €302,002.16 (85%) is non-reimbursable. The project was carried out from 13 March 2022 to 30 April 2024 and was funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014 – 2021, with national co-funding from the Republic of Croatia under the Energy and Climate Change Programme.
As part of the project activities, a final conference was held on 29 April 2024 to present the activities carried out, the results and further possibilities, and to discuss plans for the future. Dario Zurovec, the Mayor of the City of Sveta Nedelja, pointed out that the project has a significant potential for the future. “We have opportunities to develop new projects, first and foremost the drilling of the well itself, and then the development of further plans for the utilisation of geothermal energy. According to the data obtained, we could be energy independent in the future. Just as we are turning to innovation and sustainability in many segments, we are keeping pace with the green transition here as well. We need to make the most of the potential we have,” said Mayor Dario Zurovec.
The Energy and Climate Change Programme aims to use donor funds to address the challenges of climate change. “We have used the programme in the best possible way and have seen that we have great potential for further development in all ten projects that have been implemented. The capacity is there and the Ministry will continue to support further implementation. In the new programming period, we will put special emphasis on geothermal energy,” said Lovre Karamarko from the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.
The technical documentation foresees that geothermal energy in Sveta Nedelja will be used in its industrial zone, as well as in the fields of tourism and agriculture. So far, the data shows that it could in the future be extended to large settlements and industry. “Our cooperation will continue because these projects represent the beginning of the use of geothermal energy in Croatia. In many things that will follow, you must be aware of the treasure you have – an inexhaustible, renewable and sustainable source of energy that can replace other energy sources. You have energy at your fingertips that will bring prosperity to your community,” emphasised Kristleifur Guðjónsson from the Icelandic company EFLA.hr.
Martina Fabijan, the project manager, presented the activities and results of the project, pointing out that the preparation of the Project Technical Documentation has created the prerequisites for sustainable development and environmental protection, the drilling of an exploration well and the acquisition of an exploitation field. All of this will ultimately lead to the reduction of CO2 and the use of energy that is independent of weather conditions and energy prices.
As part of the preparation of the project, the ” Geothermal Potential Study in The SVETA NEDELJA 2 Exploration Area ” has already been completed, as well as the conceptual project for the Sveta Nedelja GT-2 well. Sveta Nedelja 2 exploration well project and project technical documentation with CBA related to infrastructure solutions and economic viability of using the geothermal water “Sveta Nedelja 2” for heating purposes of City locations with emphasis on the heating infrastructure of the Sports and Recreation Centre have also been created. As part of the study’s analysis, it has been established how three water-bearing systems are affected, and that the entire area has good geothermal potential. Potential zones of exploitation are Bestovje, Strmec, the area of the sports centre and Ladovići, where the highest temperature is possible. Temperatures range from 35 to 40 degrees in the direction of Podsused, and from 90 to 100 degrees in the area of Ladovići, with an average temperature of around 70 degrees. The mass flow rate is approximately 25 l/sec. The total installed thermal power of the plant would be about 6 MW. With this power it would be possible to heat an area of almost 50,000 m2 to room temperature from September to May.
The City of Sveta Nedelja intends to activate the existing geothermal potential to meet the needs of public institutions and private users, while its partner will be able to create a foundation for increasing the geothermal production capacity, which is insufficient with the existing geothermal well.
After the conference, the project partner EKOPLODOVI d.o.o. organised a workshop where the participants visited the greenhouses of Rajska d.o.o., which uses modern technologies and more advanced methods such as hydroponic production in its production. The representatives of the project partners, Jelena Zovkić and Leon Popčević, presented their activities and results within the project, pointing out that their goal is to determine the optimal area for the possible expansion of the existing geothermal field and to create the basis for increasing the geothermal production capacity by selecting the most suitable location for the construction of a new well, thus contributing to the energy transition.
Project partner EKOPLODOVI d.o.o. prepared the following as part of this project:
Analysis and processing of available geological, geochemical, geophysical, borehole and 2D seismic data in the Sveta Nedelja 1 exploration area, a concept design for the geological survey, a survey of geothermal water reserves for the “Sveta Nedelja” geothermal water exploitation field, deposit carbonates,2 and oil-mining project for the construction of an exploratory geothermal well in the “Sveta Nedelja 1” exploratory area.
More information on non-refundable grants can be found on the following websites:
https://eeagrants.hr/programi/energija-i-klimatske-promjene/
Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe | www.eeagrants.hr
The project ” Development of technical documentation for the use of geothermal energy” is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 with national co-funding from the Republic of Croatia under the “Energy and Climate Change” Programme.
Sustainable development and protection of the environment are the goals of the project – once the projects following the drilling of the well and the acquisition of the exploitation field are completed, CO2 emissions will be reduced and energy will be used that is independent of weather conditions and the price of energy sources.
The published content is the sole responsibility of the project promoter City of Sveta Nedelja and the project partners EKOPLODOVI d.o.o. and EFLA Consulting Engineers, and in no way reflects the views of the Energy and Climate Change Programme Manager.
