Bjelovar has received funding for the geothermal energy project

The city of Bjelovar has received support from the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the project of utilizing geothermal energy in the area of Veliki Korenov – Korenovo GT-1, for infrastructure works on the well. The city is the project beneficiary with partners EFLA Consulting Engineers from Iceland and Termama Bjelovar, reports EnergetikaNet.

The total value of the project amounts to €3,468,743.62, of which €1,300,000.00 are non-repayable funds. The project will be implemented from May 24, 2022, to April 30, 2024, aiming to increase energy production from renewable sources, reduce CO2 emissions, and enhance supply security. The objectives will be achieved through the execution of infrastructure works (construction, oil-mining) on the Korenovo GT-1 well with the goal 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 well will be used for heating purposes to supply the planned swimming pool complex in Veliki Korenov with thermal energy, as well as the future Korenovo Business Zone and the future planned greenhouse agricultural production in the area of Veliki Korenov.

The Mayor of the City of Bjelovar, Dario Hrebak, emphasized that this is a revolutionary project for Bjelovar.

– We have geothermal energy and we need to know how to utilize it. Although we still do not know for sure what we will find and risks exist, it is worth it. If this project succeeds completely, it opens up 5 to 7 new wells in the city area, with a capacity of 30 to 40 MW of heat, which would be sufficient for heating throughout the day. For many years, this risk is negligible compared to the benefits we gain. This is the first project in Croatia where public money enters the field of geothermal energy with a significant contribution to the local community. Today we are creating the future, and with one small project, we are creating a great story that will have a significant impact on the green transition of the whole of Croatia – wrote Hrebak on his Facebook.