IN THE SPRING OF 2023, BJELOVAR WILL BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DRILLHOLE FOR THE USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

The city of Bjelovar received funds from the EEA and Norwegian grants from the “Energy and Climate Change” program.

The EEA financial mechanism and the Norwegian financial mechanism contribute to the reduction of social and economic differences within Europe and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the donor countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the Republic of Croatia. The city of Bjelovar submitted a project “Increased geothermal energy production capacity – Infrastructural activities at the drillhole Korenovo GT-1” and obtained grants for infrastructural works on a drillhole. The city is a beneficiary of the project with partners EFLA Consulting Engineers from Iceland and Terme Bjelovar. The total value of the project is €3.468.743,62, of which €1.300.000,00 are grants. The project will be implemented from May 24, 2022 to April 30, 2024.

Today, December 6th, 2022, an initial conference was held at which the Mayor of the City of Bjelovar, Dario Hrebak, pointed out that this is a revolutionary project for Bjelovar. “We have geothermal energy and we need to know how to use it. Although we still do not know for sure what we will find and there are risks, it is worth it. If this project succeeds completely, it will open 5 to 7 new holes in the city area, with a capacity of 30 to 40 mW of heat, which would be enough for heating the whole day. Over a long period of years, this risk is insignificant compared to the benefits we receive. This is the first project in Croatia in which public money enters the field of geothermal energy with a large contribution to the local community. Today we are creating the future and with one small project we are creating a big story that will have a big impact on the green transition of the whole of Croatia.”

Hafsteinn Helgason, EFLA Consulting Engineers pointed out that Bjelovar will have the help of their experienced experts on this project. “With joint teamwork, we must use the treasures you have. Once you start using geothermal energy, it will change your lifestyle. In Iceland, 95% of households are heated using geothermal energy. Be sure to use geothermal energy for industry to have year-round income. ”

“The future of geothermal energy is one of the essential characteristics and possibilities that Croatia must develop better and more effectively. In the future, significant investments in renewable energy sources await us in order to be independent and achieve significant savings. With all its investments, Europe foresees a reduction of dependence on fossil fuels to 43% by 2030, and below 6% by 2050. Croatia has great potential for this,” said Zvonimir Žarec, director of Terme Bjelovar. The representative of the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds, Darko Fridl, emphasized: “At the very beginning of the implementation of this project, the Ministry, as the Program Manager, wants a successful implementation during which it will provide maximum support in order to successfully end the project itself.”

“Geothermal energy is gaining in value and importance precisely at the current moment of strong growth in the prices of all energy sources in the world, the consequences of which Croatia is also feeling. Given that Croatia is one of the few European countries rich in geothermal sources of very high temperatures, the focus in achieving the goals of the Green EU Plan should be to a significant extent precisely in geothermal energy. This underutilized natural potential can bring significant economic benefits to the Republic of Croatia in the long term and create the foundations of energy sustainability”, said Tomislav Đurić from the Energy Institute “Hrvoje Požar”.

“By mutual agreement of the donor countries, we chose Croatia because the use of geothermal energy should become its priority. We are all one Europe that must become greener, and the greening of each member state automatically makes Europe greener. Croatia is also included in this. We know how to diversify energy, and Bjelovar has the potential to achieve all goals”, said Haakon Blankenborg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia.

The project aims to increase energy production from renewable sources, reduce CO2 emissions and increase security of supply. The goals will be achieved through the execution of infrastructure works (construction, oil-mining) at the Korenovo GT-1 drillhole with the aim of exploiting geothermal energy, with the ultimate planned combined use of the produced energy (district heating and commercial use). The geothermal energy obtained from the drillhole will be used for heating purposes to supply the planned pool complex in Veliko Korenovo with thermal energy, then the future Business Zone Korenovo and the future planned greenhouse agricultural production in the area of Veliko Korenovo.

Media Contact: Nives Polovina Barun, 099/4712-244

You can find more about the grants on the following websites:
EEA Grants | Energy and Climate Change
EEA and Norway Grants

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A GREEN, COMPETITIVE AND INCLUSIVE EUROPE
The project “Increasing the capacity for the production of geothermal energy – Infrastructure works on the Korenovo GT-1 borehole” benefits from a € 1,3 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants with national co-financing from the Republic of Croatia within the “Energy and Climate Change” Programme. The aim of the project is to increase energy production from renewable sources, reduce CO2 emissions and increase security of supply.

This website was created with the financial support of EEA Grants and the national co-financing from the Republic of Croatia within the “Energy and Climate Change” Programme. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the City of Bjelovar as Project Promoter and Terme Bjelovar d.o.o. and EFLA Consulting Engineers as Project Partners and in no way can be considered to reflect the views of the Programme Operator of the „Energy and Climate Change“ Programme.