The Current Status of Geothermal Energy Use and Development in Slovenia

Abstract

Geothermal research and development in Slovenia in a period 2000-2004 has been somehow at a lower level than before. Direct use of geothermal energy is mainly attributed to space heating, bathing and swimming (incl. balneology), less for greenhouses, district heating, air conditioning, industrial use and geothermal heat pumps. The total direct use amounted, in 2004, to about 673 TJ at 27 locations with installed capacity of about 47 MWt. At five thermal spas geothermal heat pumps are included. It is believed that at least 102 heat pump units extract an additional heat of about 36.8 TJ from shallow groundwater and 101 closed loop heat pump units extract about 16 TJ/yr, while 1.4 TJ/yr of heat is rejected in the cooling mode. During the last 5 years exploration and development have resulted in only 8 new wells with a total depth of about 6.75 km. One of them encountered formations with possible temperatures of over 100?C in the metamorphic basement. Several thermal spas in north-eastern Slovenia are in a process of merging, and because all users there pump thermal water from the same geothermal reservoir, this will facilitate utilization management and monitoring.