Hot water was discovered in Zagreb more than 4 decades ago, since it was known that Zagreb is located on rich sources of geothermal energy. However, only a small part of their capacity is actually used. In order to change this in the future, the Faculty of Mining – Geology – Petroleum created the documentation that precedes the permits required for the construction of wells.

The Mladost swimming pools and the athletics stadium, as well as the Faculty of Kinesiology, are part of a system that uses geothermal energy for heating, and plans to expand this system are growing. In September, the student dormitory on the Sava, Stjepan Radić, will be connected to the system. The future children’s hospital in Blato should also use geothermal energy, and a connection to the network of HEP Toplinarstva was announced next year. The most important advantage of using this form of energy is lower costs.

– What is bad now is that the geothermal potential of the city of Zagreb is used only by a few percent, 5 to 10 percent, depending on whether it is summer or winter. The potential is much greater. In a few years, four to five years, they could replace fossil energy sources for heating with these types of energy sources. The temperature of that water is more than enough to heat residential buildings, said the dean of the Faculty of Mining – Geology – Petroleum, professor Vladislav Brkić.

Our fellow citizens, as well as visitors, will be delighted by the announcement of the construction of a thermal lake in Blato.

– The City of Zagreb has already earmarked 370,000 square meters of land for a thermal bath. There by the hospital in Blato, right by the golf course. Currently, property-legal issues are being resolved. In addition, the City and the state resolve property-legal issues for the hospital as well. We also have several interested investors, and we have already created a conceptual solution for the project. It would be the largest geothermal lake in Europe that would be open like a volcanic crater where you could swim, announces the concessionaire of the Zagreb geothermal field, Željko Jurilj.

In addition to the bathing area, various spas would be built, as well as sports and recreational facilities.

Article transferred from radio.hrt.hr/radio-sljeme/