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Description
The main project objective is development of a pilot project in south-west part of the Panonian basin region where on the terrain surface we follow interface with Dinarides region with a goal of increasing the capacities for production and usage of heat from geothermal energy in the city of Karlovac. Specific project objective is site preparation for exploration borehole KaGT-1 in order to prepare the location for the future drilling plant and a trial pit for assessing borehole KaGT-1 and FOR regular development of technological processes of borehole drilling within the exploration block Karlovac 1.
By realizing the specific objectives the Applicant will have all the pre-requisites to begin with drilling of the exploration borehole KaGT-1 for which the City of Karlovac has already detected appropriate financing sources. This project is also going to establish a bilateral cooperation with a donor state, Iceland, which will further strengthened capacity to manage and promote renewable energy and lay the foundation for continuation of cooperation on future joint projects.
Target groups who will be covered by the project activities include: GeotermiKA Ltd., City of Karlovac, general public (Croatia and Iceland), science community, education institutions, environment and ecology non-government associations , Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Republic Iceland and Consulate of Iceland in the Republic of Croatia. Indirect target group includes: Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, Karlovac County, local, regional and national media, Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, Public Institution Karlovac County Development Agency and Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Summary of project results
The specific goal of the project was site preparation of the borehole work area for the accommodation of the drilling rig and the pit for production testing of the KaGT-1 borehole. By achieving the said goal, the Project Promoter has all the prerequisites for the construction of the Karlovac GT-1 (KaGT-1) geothermal water exploration borehole. The Project Promoter also achieved bilateral cooperation with the donor country, Iceland, which additionally contributed to strengthening the capacity for management and promotion of renewable energy sources and creation of foundations for continued further cooperation and future joint projects.
Direct effects:
1. increased public awareness of the positive effects of using renewable energy sources;
2. increased public knowledge about the EEA 2014-2021. the financial mechanism and project PREP4KaGT-1;
3. prepared drilling work area of 15,000 m2 for the accommodation of the drilling plant and pits for production testing of the well with dimensions of 50 x 90 x 3.5 m and usable volume of 15,750 m3.
The project successfully implemented a pilot investment - Preparation of the borehole working area, i.e. the borehole work area is arranged to house the drilling rig and pit for production testing of the borehole and the normal development of the technological process of making the borehole, which implies the following activities:
• arrangement of the borehole working area (BRP); built from stone material embankment on previously leveled ground; the stone material is compacted to the prescribed compaction modulus;
• creation of the mouth of the borehole, ie reinforced concrete open pool (shaft);
• making the foundations of the tower substructure according to the specification for the National-402 drilling rig,
• creation of the foundation of the drilling rig, that is, the area where the entire drilling rig is placed;
• making a sand trap;
• arrangement of space for accommodation of storage containers and containers for accommodation of workers;
• arrangement of space for housing fuel tanks;
• creation of a temporary landfill for inflated material;
• excavation of two pits with ramparts for testing and secondary control of well pressure (flare);
• creation of piezometers (wells) that serve to define the zero state of groundwater quality, take samples for chemical analysis and quality monitoring;
• groundwater during the construction of an exploratory well;
• construction of a collection pit with a volume of 5 m3 for the collection of waste water from containers for the accommodation and work of employees;
• creation of a pit (lagoon) for the reception of geothermal water during production testing of the well.
As part of the implementation of the project, expert supervision was also engaged to ensure that everything was carried out in accordance with the rules of the profession, and the location of the pilot projects was marked with a permanent board with signs of the visibility of the funding sources for the purpose of information and communication. In accordance with the instructions, the audit of the project was carried out.
In addition to the previously mentioned basic activities, numerous other activities were carried out within the project, of which the following stand out:
• a study trip to Iceland was organized by the project partner ISOR, attended by representatives of Geotermika and the City of Karlovac. During the visit, several bilateral meetings and 1 round table were held on the topic of using geothermal energy;
• a web sub-page of the project was created, which contains information about the project;
• for the purpose of information and communication, 2 radio shows and 2 TV shows were realized, promotional material, a project banner was created, and the location of the pilot projects was photographed and filmed, and finally a promotional film of the project was made;
• 2 press conferences were held (kick off and final project conference) where promo material was distributed to the participants.
During the implementation the borehole work area was prepared to house the drilling rig and pit for production testing of the borehole.
The expected benefits are great:
- contribution to energy independence through the application of stable energy capacities from renewable energy sources,
- replacement of fossil fuels with energy from renewable sources (which leads to reduction of environmental pollution and has a positive impact on reducing climate change),
- contribution to development of knowledge and competitiveness in the field of renewable energy sources by testing and applying innovative technology,
- contribution to the development of the local economy through the policy of engagement of local companies in project implementation,
- creating conditions for the development of other economic projects in tourism, agriculture and industrial production in local and regional area, by opening new jobs, raising the level of awareness and knowledge of the general public about the importance of using renewable energy sources and how they can be implemented and used by public and SMEs.
The target groups included in the project activities are: GeotermiKA d.o.o., the City of Karlovac, the general public (Croatia, Iceland), the scientific community-scientific teaching organizations, environmental non-governmental organizations and educational institutions.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the realization of the project are at least 50% of the inhabitants of the city of Karlovac and 300 business entities for whom heating will be provided in the future with a safe supply from geothermal energy. By introducing renewable energy sources and significantly reducing the production of thermal energy from existing hot water boilers, there will be a reduction in CO2 emissions by 50 - 80%, it will contribute to the security and diversification of the city''s energy supply, the share of energy produced from renewable sources will increase and enable successful transformation of the city into an ecologically sustainable area.
Summary of bilateral results
During study trip to Iceland, project partner ISOR held several workshops and 1 round table on the topic of using geothermal energy (several examples of good practice in Iceland, as well as examples from other countries in which ISOR representatives participated were given). During the study visit, Project Promotor had the opportunity to see several facilities for the production of electricity from geothermal sources, a 30-kilometer-long overhead pipeline that brings thermal energy for heating to Reykjavik, etc.