Utilization of Geothermal Energy in Slovenia

Abstract

Slovenia is locatcd the colliding margins of the Eurasian and the African plates, more precisely on the Adriatic microplate and on the western border of the Pannonian basin. Its complicated tectonic and stratigraphical setting is reflected in Earths thermal field. In the upper kilometres of the crust temperatures increase from southwest to northeast. tcmperature geothermal systems occur in both fractured and, more widely, intergranular reservoirs. Geothermal energy potential is in eastern part of the country. main geothermal parameters have been ascertained from 72 borcholcs, with a depth range from 100 to m. direct use of geothermal energy, from 21 geothermal localities, amounted, in 1994, to 762 TJ. There are more than 400 heat pump units extracting an additional heat of 4 0 TJ from shallow groundwater. Total gcothermal resources in eastern Slovenia amount to about TJ. A feasibility study for electric power generation of about MW is under preparation.