Topusko smart thermal city
Topusko Health Resort ·Croatia
About this project
<p>The aim of the project is to offer a vision of long-term sustainable development of the Municipality of Topusko based on the use of renewable geothermal water and related energy and reducing CO2 emissions, as well as increased security of supply, all in line with the latest achievements in energy and automation and spatial planning of local community development. The use of geothermal water is extremely important for this area because, in addition to enabling health and recreational tourism, it also allows the use of geothermal water as an energy source for the heating system in the municipality. The project proposal plans to prepare documentation for the reconstruction of wells and increase the use of geothermal energy in the heating system in the municipality of Topusko. The current geothermal system in the municipality of Topusko consists of four geothermal wells, distribution pipelines and a central heating station. Geothermal wells need remediation due to the frequent occurrence of pipeline bursts and the introduction of regulation and automation for more rational management of this extremely valuable renewable energy source. Also, it is planned to increase the connected facilities to the geothermal hot water network, which requires the expansion of the network and the construction of new routes that will heat the newly connected facilities using system water heated by geothermal water. By connecting the facilities to the new geothermal hot water network, users will be heated by a renewable energy source from geothermal water, thus using the full potential of geothermal water in the Topusko area. </p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The donor project partner, EFLA Consulting Engineers from Iceland, played a pivotal role in transferring knowledge and best practices. Iceland's extensive experience in geothermal energy utilization provided valuable insights for designing and implementing sustainable systems in Topusko. The study visit to Iceland allowed Croatian stakeholders to observe operational geothermal systems and learn about efficient district heating networks. The collaboration also helped the project team understand the legislative and technical frameworks required for successful geothermal energy exploitation. Bilateral cooperation resulted in several key outcomes. The study visit to Iceland facilitated knowledge exchange and demonstrated advanced geothermal technologies that could be adapted for use in Croatia. EFLA’s involvement improved the quality of technical documentation and ensured that the project incorporated international best practices. Bilateral meetings also fostered stronger relationships between Croatian and Icelandic stakeholders, laying the groundwork for future collaborations. Both parties have expressed interest in collaborating on the next phases of the project, including the implementation of the proposed technical solutions and further exploration of geothermal energy applications. Future initiatives may focus on developing additional geothermal infrastructure and promoting sustainable energy use in other Croatian municipalities.
Project partners
- EFLA h.f. Donor project partner· Iceland
- TOP-TERME d.o.o. Project partner· Croatia