City of Bjelovar, Croatia to receive co-funding for geothermal project

Bjelovar, Croatia (source: flickr / János Korom Dr., creative commons)

The city of Bjelovar in Croatia is set to receive funding from the “Energy and Climate Change” programme of the Ministry of Regional Development and EU funds, funded by the Kingdom of Norway, for the development and construction of a geothermal well. The maximum amount that could be received from the funding is EUR 1.5 million and the project is expected to have a total value of EUR 3.5 million.

We haven’t yet received confirmation that we’ve been approved in the full amount, but given that very few projects have applied for this tender, and ours is highly rated, we’re hoping for the best,” said Bjelovar Mayor Dario Hrebak.

Mayor Hrebak did not express any reluctance over having to provide the other half of the required amount for the project. ”I believe that in the near future there will be more tenders for such projects, so I believe that we will find the required amount. This is a great investment, we’ll definitely realise it,” Hrebak added.

Hrebak estimated that a building permit can be approved by the end of the year and that work on the well itself can be completed by the end of next year.

”We have information that in other parts of the city there are underground springs where the water temperature is between 70 and 100 degrees celsius. Bjelovar has a great geothermal potential that we definitely plan to utilise,” concluded Hrebak.

In 2019, the 16.5 MW Velika Ciglena geothermal power plant officially became Croatia’s first geothermal power plant. According to Mayor Hrebak, Ciglena produces 130 million Kuna (EUR 17.1 million) worth of electricity per year, so he is also expecting millions in energy savings for Bjelovar.

Source: Klikni.hr