| Title | Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rajver, D., Prestor, J., Lapanje, A. and Rman, N. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Conference |
| Keywords | geothermal potential, recent development, utilization, direct utilizations, heat pumps. |
| Abstract | Geothermal energy use in Slovenia has been followed on regular basis since 1995. In the last period 2007 - 2012 there is no growth but slow and constant increment of the energy contribution from direct use of thermal water. Three district heating systems are operating; the additional one is under construction. A significant potential of existing thermal wells is still unused and could be exploited most probably after 2015. Capacity factor of existing utilization is still rather low. Stronger initiatives for BAT use are needed. The most needed research and development should be focused on reinjection possibilities in the Pannonian basin sediments in NE part of Slovenia and on cascade use possibilities. Three very important international projects (Transthermal, T-JAM under Interreg IIIA initiative, and Transenergy within the Central Europe programme) were conducted in the last years. They enabled to reveal the potential of further thermal water abstractions development, considering the cross-border sustainable management and environmental goals. Contribution of geothermal energy from heat pumps shows growth (16.5 %) and will overcome thermal water utilization in the following few years. But, there is still lack of advanced technologies applications. The action plan was elaborated in the frame of Geo.Power (Interreg IVC) that would initiate the quick growth in the next period 2014 – 2020. Direct heat use categories use annually 164.3 GWhth (591.51 TJ) of geothermal energy, and ground source heat pumps additional 96 GWhth (346 TJ). There is no electricity generation from geothermal sources in Slovenia so far. The identified middle enthalpy resources in NE Slovenia are not suitable for economical electricity production from geothermal energy due to significantly low yield. |