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Future experts must familiarize themselves with the challenges of the energy transition already now
The education of experts in the field of mining, geology and oil mining, as well as any other field of energy, is extremely important today, in the age of energy transition. With this aim, the Zagreb student branch of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPGZG) organized a three-day conference on geothermal energy. This made it possible to connect young talents, future engineers, with scientists and researchers, as well as future employers, while at the same time the economy and the entire society were pointed out to the enormous opportunities that exist in Croatia when it comes to exploiting the potential of geothermal energy .
The Expert gathering on the topic of geothermal energy was therefore mainly intended for students, but everyone else interested in the extremely dynamic area of geothermal energy was also welcome. It was held in the premises of the Mining-Geology-Petroleum Faculty of the University of Zagreb whose dean, prof. Ph.D. Vladislav Brkić, addressing the participants at the beginning of the Conference, noted that mining, geology and oil mining as professions in today’s world should constantly develop and adapt in order to cope with the challenges of the energy transition. Interest in such specialists is therefore increasing every day in areas such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage and utilization (CCUS), as well as research into critical raw materials.
Long tradition of using geothermal energy
Although many think that it is a completely new source of energy, geothermal energy in Croatia has a rich history of application. For example, as Vladimir Cazin from GPC Instrumentation Process emphasized in his presentation, the Zagreb geothermal field was discovered as early as 1977. Since 1981, Sports Park Mladost has been using this energy for heating, preparation of domestic hot water, and pool heating, and since 2018, the Faculty of Kinesiology of the University of Zagreb. Last year, 307,000 m3 of geothermal water with an average flow rate of 9.7 l/s, or 8051 MW h of thermal energy, were obtained from the wells directly next to the athletics stadium. This also has a significant impact on the environment, because, for example, the Faculty of Kinesiology thereby reduced equivalent CO2 emissions by 2,000 t per year.
However, it will not stop there because, as announced by Željko Jurilj, also from GPC, the buildings of the Student Dormitory ‘Stjepan Radić’ should also be connected to this system from October of this year, and an external and internal heating system is also planned. of the future sports campus of the Faculty of Kinesiology. Connection to the Zagreb heating system is also being considered, since the distance of the Mla-3 well from the heating substation is less than 100 m.
Big plans
Sveta Nedelja is one of the cities where the application of geothermal energy is intensively considered. For example, the company Ekoplodovi already has a permit to extract geothermal water, and the city utility company Svenkom conducts research.
The potential of geothermal energy was also recognized by the company that in the past was most responsible for discovering the majority of all existing geothermal sources in Croatia. It is, of course, about INA, which has two licenses for geothermal energy research. As explained by Andrej Pleša, head of INA’s team for geothermal energy, it is about the fields Međimurje 5 and Leščan. Research began last year, while measurements and preparation for drilling will be carried out this year. Drilling should start in 2025, while the construction of the geothermal power plant and energy production is expected by 2028. In any case, INA has big plans in the field of geothermal energy.
The conference also included a series of interesting lectures and round tables, and for all participants a tour of the geothermal well next to the Mladost Sports Park in Zagreb and the Veliko Korenovo well near Bjelovar, where the abundance of geothermal water production for the future tourist complex, but also for use, has just been confirmed in the economic zone.