SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RESEARCH AND UTILIZATION OF SHALLOW GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN CROATIA

Abstract

Utilization of shallow geothermal energy is well known in several European countries. Even though large parts of Republic of Croatia show significant potential for it use, installation of ground source heat pump systems (heat pump and heat exchangers) is slowly progressing. Therefore, a short overview of so far published research concerning utilization and assessments of shallow geothermal potential for Croatia was done. In Croatia there is no agency or government department in charge of collecting and publishing data concerning installations of heat exchangers. Therefore, a study was done to collect available data of installed closed-loop heat exchangers either from scientific research or from personal contacts with drilling companies. Based on collected data a map was produced that shows general locations of installed heat exchangers. From obtained data of installed heat exchanger length, a first assessment of utilizing shallow geothermal potential in Croatia was given.

Keywords

• shallow geothermal energy
• Croatia
• heat exchangers