Project Holder

The project holder, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture of the University of Zagreb (FSB) has been dealing with heat pumps of shallow geothermal potential since 2007, when it pioneered the scientific research project Heat pumps with the Use of Soil as a Renewable Heat Reservoir, funded by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. As part of the project, a test well equipped with temperature probes was drilled at a depth of 100 m in 2009 at the FSB. In 2011, the first mobile TRT device was produced in the Republic of Croatia. The gathered experiences were used for the application and implementation of the IPA IIIC Project Research and Promotion of Shallow Geothermal Potential in the Republic of Croatia (2013-2015). As part of the Project, mapping of geothermal potential was carried out at eight locations across Croatia using an advanced distribution method for determining the thermal properties of soil in Osijek, Požega, Čakovec, Zagreb, Gospić, Poreč, Zadar and Knin. This was followed by the supervisory and consulting work of members of the FSB project team on the Horizon Project CheapGSHP (2015 - 2019), as part of which a pilot plant with three coaxials and three 2U pipes with a high-temperature heat pump was built at the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum in Zagreb aimed for the heating a part of the exhibition space. Also, in the past 11 years, the FSB team participated in the implementation of measurements of the thermal properties of the soil at about 20 locations throughout Croatia, where they collected valuable results. The professional and scientific capacity of the FSB as a leading partner emerges from all of the above. As a project holder, the FSB team coordinates project activities within the project team with the aim of ensuring the successful implementation of the project. For the implementation of the Project Management and Information and Communication activities, it is planned to hire a new person as an assistant to the project manager. Furthermore, the FSB participates in the activities of systematizing data on the derived systems for the purposes of creating a database and estimating the thermal energy output from the system of interest, it will lead the activity of creating an interactive GIS map, and in addition to all this, the members of the project team also participate in the Informing and communication activities.

Partner

The Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering of the University of Zagreb actively participates in conducting research related to the characterization of thermogeological properties of soil and rocks (thermal conductivity, thermal capacity, thermal diffusivity, geothermal gradient), which are extremely important in obtaining thermal energy contained in soil and rocks. Also, an integral part of the activities of the RGN profession is the geological and hydrogeological characterization of micro- and macrolocations, in order to obtain the most accurate data and models of thermal energy utilization of soil and groundwater. Hydrogeological research has a special role here, considering that data on hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient are necessary when designing systems that use underground water as a heat source. Therefore, RGN, as a partner, contributes to the development of the project by interpreting the geological environment in which the currently installed systems of borehole exchangers and wells are located, based on data collected from investors or contractors of drilling works, and which refer to the review of the documentation of the described drilled samples, where such documentation is available . Basic geological maps of the Republic of Croatia are also used as a basis for interested parties to interpret the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the area. According to the geological, hydrogeological, thermogeological and climatic characteristics of the area, the average thermal yields of the borehole heat exchangers will be determined as one of the outcomes of the project. Based on the above results, initial maps will be created for the pre-calculation of various parameters (possible heat yields based on the selected geothermal technical system, e.g. different designs of borehole heat exchangers, wells, etc.) and an estimate of the costs of the system that uses shallow geothermal energy, and considering the differences performance (well construction costs, drilling costs, installation of a borehole heat exchanger, equipping wells, etc.), costs of surface collection system performance, costs of the thermo-technical system on the user's side (e.g. heat pump, heating elements, etc.), and based on typical measure, for the territory of the Republic of Croatia. As a project partner, RGN has previous experience in implementing the project, especially the aforementioned activities related to the characterization of thermogeological, geological and hydrogeological conditions that are necessary when designing shallow geothermal systems. As a partner applicant, the RGN team participates in the activities of systematizing data on the derived systems for the purposes of creating a database and estimating the thermal energy output from the system of interest. Members of the project team also participate in the Information and Communication activities.

Partner

TT INŽENJERING d.o.o. was founded in 2006, and the founder and sole owner is Goran Tomek, dipl. ing. stroj. The company deals with the design and supervision of mechanical installations of heating, cooling, gas, ventilation, air conditioning, steam, mechanical and technological installations, water supply and sewage. The company has many years of experience in the design and supervision of mechanical installations of various sizes and complexity, including a total of 22 shallow geothermal energy utilization systems. The main role of the partner in the project is support during the creation of the database, a tour of the implemented systems and the collection of technical documentation about the implemented systems, as well as an expert assessment of the functionality (full, partial, non-functional) of the implemented systems. The partner participates in project workshops with topics related to the design of shallow geothermal energy systems and examples of good practice. For the purposes of creating materials as part of information and visibility activities, the experience of partners with investors in heating, cooling and ventilation systems will be used to create a manual for the use of shallow geothermal energy.