Supporting efficient cascade use of geothermal energy by unlocking official and public information

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Address
Acronym
The role of GeoZS
Participants
Supporting efficient cascade use of geothermal energy by unlocking official and public information
INFO-GEOTHERMAL
Lead partner
Dr Nina Rman (contact)
Start of the project
End of the project
Programme
Funding
Link to the project website
01.09.2022
30.04.2024
Norwegian Financial Mechanism
https://www.norwaygrants.si/novica/info-geothermal/
7. April, 2025

Supporting efficient cascade use of geothermal energy by unlocking official and public information

Content

Four Slovenian institutions (Geological Survey of Slovenia, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Slovenia) and one Icelandic institution (Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik University) have collaborated in this predefined INFO-GEOTHERMAL project. 

INFO-GEOTHERMAL was the first project to innovatively strengthen the institutional capacities of national authorities involved in the management of geothermal energy use, local authorities creating the spatial framework for investors, and the largest stakeholders in the exploration of deep geothermal potential in Slovenia. 

The increased and more energy-efficient use of thermal water for geothermal energy (GE) production can make a significant contribution to achieving Slovenia's climate and energy goals. It is a local source of renewable energy, its use significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and can replace the use of fossil fuels in the areas with the most favourable potential, which are mainly located in the east of the country, in the transboundary Pannonian Basin. The proposed approaches make it necessary and possible to move from the almost stagnant GE production, the reduction in the number of district heating systems, the limitations in thermal water extraction due to the lack of reinjection wells and the less coordinated management of GE utilisation, as it is managed by two ministries, to an accelerated and environmentally friendly extraction of thermal energy from deep underground.

Through the transfer of knowledge from the world's leading geothermal country - Iceland - our joint activities led to significantly improved formal support programmes for investments. The project objectives were achieved by mapping the deep geothermal potential for the direct use of thermal water and geothermal electricity; organising and publishing data as a basis for a future one-stop shop in the field of geothermal energy; training experts from authorities, research institutions and project developers from Slovenia and Iceland; establishing a national geothermal network; and creating an attractive environment for companies with clear guidelines and rules for the development of geothermal projects.

Professionals and the general public were given free and unrestricted access to information on the type and location of subsurface data and guidelines for the technical and economic development of projects through the project's website and materials. Regulatory authorities gained the necessary knowledge to develop and apply guidelines for their decision-making processes. Meanwhile, awareness of and adherence to these guidelines by public service providers, planners and developers enabled more accurate permit applications, resulting in a faster decision-making process.

Investors and users of thermal water were able to produce pre-feasibility and feasibility studies more quickly, while project developers used data from the two pilot areas to conduct economic analyses for new projects focusing on direct heat use or geothermal power plants. Municipalities were informed about the availability of useful data for the development of deep geothermal projects and the necessary procedures for attracting and guiding investors. Research and educational institutions strengthened their competences through the organisation and participation of staff and students in geothermal summer schools and workshops. All stakeholders in the field of geothermal energy use were invited to join the newly established geothermal network.

The total value of the project was EUR 1,073,529.41.

 

Project results:

DT 1. 1. 1. 1., Q & A report in geothermics

DT 1. 1. 2., Report on overview of (web)tools and types of public information in the neighbouring countries and Iceland

DT 1. 1. 3., Workshop and study cases on Iceland

DT 1. 2. 1., Report on available data and new research

DT 1. 2. 1., Report on available data and new research - data:
Metadata of deep boreholes and seismic lines - 
Metadata of deep boreholes and seismic lines - 

DT 1. 2. 2., Viewer of 3D geothermal model of NE Slovenia

DT 1. 2. 2., Report on 3D digital geothermal model of NE Slovenia

DT 1. 2. 3., Go to areas for geothermal projects - Municipality Beltinci

DT 1. 2. 3., Go to areas for geothermal projects - Municipality Turnišče

DT 1. 2. 3., Go to areas for geothermal projects - Municipality Dobrovnik

DT 1. 2. 3., Go to areas for geothermal facilities - spatial data - 

DT 2. 1. 1., Report on legislation and suggestions for improvements

DT 2. 1. 2., Report on legislation adaptation for geological risk

DT 2. 1. 3., Report on legislation adaptation for electricity

DT 2. 2. 1., Report on establishment of web one stop shop

DT 2. 2. 3., Funding mechanisms for geothermal projects

DT 3. 1. 1., Guidelines on the development of projects of geothermal wells

DT 3.1.2., Guidelines on geothermal reinjection wells

DT 3. 1. 4., Guidelines to develop direct use

DT 3. 1. 4., Guidelines to develop direct use - ENERGY

DT 3. 1. 5., Guidelines to develop geothermal power plant

DT 4. 1. 1., Geothermal summer school - abstract book

DT 4. 2. 1., Code of conduct. Part 1 - Overview

DC 3. 1., INFO-GEOTHERMAL presentation of final project results

DC 3. 1., INFO-GEOTHERMAL media statement at the end of the project

DC 4. 1., Booklet on energy efficient use of geothermal resources and their development

DC 6. 1, Info boards on efficient and cascade use of geothermal energy

DC 6. 2., Physical model of geothermal reservoirs in NE Slovenia

 

Watch project presentation video: https://youtu.be/RAKaMd-SFpo?si=nDOpmmJM6m4THrKf

 

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