Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2005 Antalya, Turkey, 24-29 April 2005 State of the Art of the Geothermal Resources in Croatia in the Year 2004 Krešimir Jelić 1, Miron Kovačić 2, Sonja Koščak-Kolin 1 1 Faculty of Mining Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Croatia 1 Institute of geology, Sachsova 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia E- mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Keywords: geothermal resources, thermal power, direct prevail. The northeast area of the boundary belongs to the energy utilization, geology survey, Croatia Pannonian Basin. In this area the Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary rocks dominate which overly the crystalline ABSTRACT bedrock and occasional Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. In general, there are two different regions in the Republic of Locality of the stratigraphic unit and description of the Croatia both in geological and geothermal respect. The rocks are represented on the geological map (Fig. 1). The Dinaric area occupies the southeastern part of the country main characteristics of the tectonic pattern are tangential with predominantly Mesozoic carbonate rocks structures (folds, thrusts, nappes) of the northwest-southeast characterized by the temperature gradients ranging from strike, mostly originated in Paleogene, disturbed by 0.01 to 0.03°C/m. The northeast part of the country lies younger normal faults from Neogene to Quaternary (Velić, mostly in the area known as the Panon. It is dominated by I. & Velić, J., 1993). clastic sedimentary rocks of Quaternary and Tertiary age that overly the crystalline bedrock and, occasionally, the These two geologically different regions have different Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. The temperature gradient in geothermal characteristics. In the Dinarides area the temperature gradient ranges from 0.01 to 0.03 °C/m and the the latter area ranges from 0.03 to 0.07°C/m with -2 considerable geothermal energy potential. terrestrial heat-flow density from 20 to 60 m Wm (Jelić et al., 1995). There are three prominent locations of Altogether there are 28 reservoirs in Croatia. Only 18 of geothermal wellsprings: Sveti Stjepan - Istria spa (28-31,1 them have been utilized, although the percentage of usage °C), Lešće (33,4°C) and Topusko (64-65 °C). of their available power is still very small. Installed Main geothermal potential in Croatia is in the Pannonian capacities have a thermal power of 113 MWt, with annual area (Kovačić, 2000, 2001 a). The temperature gradient in energy production of 680 TJ/yr. Improvement of such a 0 condition can be significant for the future economic this region ranges from 0,03 to 0,07 C/m, which is more development of certain regions in Croatia. Increase of direct than the world mean value. The terrestrial heat-flow density is also high, ranging from 60 to 100 m Wm-2 (Jelić et al., geothermal energy usage in the past five years was about -2 20%, while the plans for construction of a geothermal 1995) and occasionally up to 120 m Wm (Kovačić, 1995). electric power plant are postponed to year 2010. On some locations the heat-flow density across impermeable formation is even greater (Kovačić, 2001 b). Prominent locations of geothermal wellsprings in 1. INTRODUCTION Pannonian area are: Geothermal area Hrvatsko zagorje - The average temperature gradient in the north of Croatia, Jezerčica (38 °C), Krapinske Toplice (Spa) (40,7 °C), belonging to the Panonian sedimentary basin, is Stubičke Toplice (Spa) (57-58,2 °C), Sutinska Spa, (35,7 considerably above the world average, while in the °C), Šemnica (32,6 °C), Gotalovac (25,7 °C), Tuheljske southern, Dinarides area its value is below that level, e. g. toplice (Spa) (32,9 °C); Geothermal area Zagreb - Sveta Jelić, Kevrić and Krasić (1995). In spite of the huge Jana (24,8 °C), Sveta Helena – Šmithen (27,3) and Sveti geothermal potential accumulated in the reservoirs of the Ivan Zelina (22,2 °C); Geothermal area West Slavonia - Panonian area, the stage of utilization of geothermal energy Daruvarske toplice (Spa) (46,9 °C), Lipik (58,2 – 60 and is very low, e. g. Košćak-Kolin (2000). Low temperature Velika (Spa) (28,9 °C); Geothermal area Međimurje & thermal water is widely used for bathing, swimming and Podravina - Varaždinske Toplice (Spa) (57,6 °C) (Kovačić medical purposes in traditional spas, some of which are also & Perica, 1998). equipped with geothermal space heating systems. During the research activities concerning the oil and gas Geothermal potential accumulated in the reservoirs of the resources in the Pannonian area some 3.500 boreholes were northern part of Croatia can be a significant renewable drilled, many of them have been drilled through the energy source, substantially contributing to the overall geothermal aquifers. Zone with the best conditions for energy efficiency and the environmentally acceptable exploitation of geothermal water from the drilled aquifers energy policy, (Bošnjak et al 1998). are: Geothermal area Zagreb (31 - 82 °C); Geothermal area Ivanić Grad (50 - 60 °C); Geothermal area East Slavonia - 2. GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND AND Bizovac (86 - 98 °C), Ernestinovo, Madarinci, Babina greda GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES (74 - 125 °C); Geothermal area Međimurje & Podravina – The Republic of Croatia can be divided generally into two Vučkovec (40 °C), Lunjkovec (125 °C) Velika Ciglena geologically different regions: the Pannonian Basin and the (150 - 170 °C) and Geothermal area Lešće & Karlovac (95 - Dinarides belt. Different opinions prevail with regards to 130 °C). the location of the boundary line between the two regions. The most important area and locations where geothermal The boundary on the fig. 1 is based on lithological water is exploited are sketched on the map (Fig. 2). characteristics and tectonics. Southwest of the boundary is the Dinarides area where the Mesozoic carbonate rocks 1 Jelić, Kovačić and Koščak-Kolin 3. GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL Except from natural springs, some of which have been used Total direct heat potential of 28 geothermal resources is for centuries, geothermal water supply to those facilities is also drawn from shallow wells, drilled during the last few about 1000 MWt. This value follows from thermal power of each existing well, based on the energy usage down to the decades. While on some of the localities thermal water is temperature of 25°C. Maximum annual thermal energy used only for balneological and recreational purposes, production from all geothermal reservoirs, calculated on the others are heated by geothermal energy, due to water basis of the capacity factor of 50%, could reach full temperatures that make possible a useful amount of energy 18441,63 TJ/yr. According the calculations, the electric to be extracted by means of heat exchangers and heat power of five suitable geothermal resources is about 50 pumps. There are also public recreational centers where geothermal water is used only in open-air swimming pools MWt maximally while the annual production of electrical energy amounts to 377,33 GWh/yr, calculated on the basis during the summer season. Obviously, the contribution of of the capacity factor of 90% (Jelić, K., Pavičić, H., et al, those facilities to the overall geothermal energy utilization 2000). is small. Total direct heat potential of 28 geothermal resources is “Mladost” Sport Centre, located in the south-western part of the Croatia’s capital Zagreb, makes use of the about 1000 MWt. This value follows from thermal power of each existing well, based on the energy usage down to the geothermal water from the Zagreb geothermal reservoir. temperature of 25°C. Maximum annual thermal energy The whole complex, including open-air and indoor production from all geothermal reservoirs, calculated on the swimming pools with all the accompanying facilities, as basis of the capacity factor of 50%, could reach full well as two sport halls, is entirely heated by geothermal 18441,63 TJ/yr. According the calculations, the electric energy, including the peak consumption. Geothermal power of five suitable geothermal resources is about 50 energy is extracted from the water flowing in a closed system, consisting of a production well, cascaded heat MWt maximally while the annual production of electrical energy amounts to 377,33 GWh/yr, calculated on the basis exchangers, injection pumps and an injection well. Pressure of the capacity factor of 90% (Jelić, K., Pavičić, H., et al, resulting from the density difference of water with different 2000). temperatures is used to establish so-called thermosiphon injection. Consequently, the injection system can operate In Croatia there are 18 locations where geothermal energy without the support of the injection pumps for more than is used mostly for the balneology, recreation and space 7500 hours a year (Zelić et al, 1995). heating (table 1). Still, it is only about one half of totally 28 geothermal reservoirs, situated in northen part of Croatia Another locality where geothermal energy is used from (Čubrić and Jelić, 1995). However, 5 locations with the deep production and injection wells is Bizovac, near the highest geothermal potential, having geothermal water town of Osijek in the north-eastern part of the country. above 100oC, are not used inspite of the allready existing “Termia” Recreation Centre, consisting of a hotel equipped wells, which require the greatest part of the investment with a complex of open-air and indoor swimming pools, is costs. heated by geothermal energy. The circulation of geothermal water is not closed like at “Mladost” Sport Centre. Feasibility study on combined electricity and heat production were performed for 2 from 5 high-temperature In the Table 3, the outlet temperatures correspond to the reservoirs. It gave positive results in both technical average air temperatures during the year or the summer feasibility and financial viability for the Velika Ciglena season, depending on the period of the year when a specific cogeneration plant, while the Lunjkovec-Kutnjak project facility is in function.