Hydrothermal potential of the Municipality of Krapinske Toplice

About this project

<p>The Krapina-Zagorje County wants to further actively explore the potential of geothermal water for the development of district heating. In the area of the local community of Krapinske Toplice, the development of geothermal projects for district heating will achieve multiple benefits. With the reduction of CO2 emissions, thermal energy obtained from geothermal sources is cheaper for end users compared to the predominantly used natural gas. This will reduce costs and increase the quality of life for healthcare facilities, tourism workers and households. Geothermal energy emits 23 g/kWh of CO2, while natural gas emits 220 g/kWh of CO2. The comparison gives a ratio of 1:9,565 in favour of geothermal energy. The future plants with an installed capacity of approximately 2.98 MW would be able to heat more than 42000 m2 of space. This achieves the projected reduction of CO2 emissions by 2.821 tons on the basis of 200 days. The Krapina-Zagorje County plans to launch the HyPoKraT project, which will produce documentation that allows further research that will lead to activities in the future exploration area, i.e. the future exploitation area, for the use of geothermal energy for heating purposes. This will increase energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change in the future. The project will directly contribute to the establishment of installed capacities for the use of energy from renewable sources, and through communication activities contribute to the strengthening of capacities for the management and promotion of renewable energy sources. Namely, through workshops and other channels of visibility, the project will address target groups, mostly citizens, but also experts and the youth.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

Bilateral partnerships played a key role in achieving the success of the project through multiple aspects, including professional support, capacity building and strengthening of ties between partners. The Norwegian partner NORCE brought not only expertise but also examples of good practice in areas relevant to the project. Within project, NORCE carried out the analysis and interpretation of the available 2D seismic data, created a 3D model of the geothermal aquifer and simulated the production of water from the geothermal reservoir. They also designed a geothermal system using advanced technology that is not available in Croatia. Data on 2D seismic profiles were collected from the Hydrocarbons Agency. A representative of NORCE visited Croatia in December 2023, where he presented the results of the project, exchanged knowledge about geothermal energy and participated in the final conference of the project in Krapinske Toplice. Through study trips, workshops and other forms of cooperation, Croatian experts adopted Norwegian models and approaches in geothermal energy, adapting them to the local context. This transfer of knowledge enabled a detailed study of the advanced techniques used in Norway. Through continuous dialogue and cooperation, a sustainable model for capacity development has been created. This model ensures that local stakeholders are capable of independently managing similar projects in the future, thus ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of geothermal projects. The study visits of the Croatian partners to the laboratories of NORCE enabled the participants to become familiar with experimental approaches to the study of underground flows and related bio-geo-chemical processes. These practical experiences are essential for the application of theoretical knowledge in real situations. This will bring geothermal energy closer to the general population and enrich the existing scientific literature.

Project partners

• Norwegian Research Center AS Donor project partner· Norway
• AP Consulting Project partner· Croatia
• Municipality of Krapinske Toplice Project partner· Croatia
• North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency Project partner· Croatia