Temperature Gradient Distribution
and Geothermal Resources of Croatia
The northern part of the Republic
of Croatia, in geological terms a part of the Panonian
sedimentary basin, having an average temperature
gradient of 0.049°C/m and vertical conductive heat
flow of 76 mW/m2 (Jeliæ et al., 1995), can be considered
a large geothermal energy accumulator.
The great majority of wells drilled
for oil or natural gas, being positive or dry in
terms of hydrocarbons, penetrated aquifers that,
belonging to such a warm environment, could be considered
geothermal reservoirs. Nevertheless, taking into
account technological and economic criteria, only
those producing water with temperatures above 65°C
were classified as geothermal wells.
Comparison of the total geothermal
energy that could be produced using conventional
heat exchange systems with the total primary energy
production in Croatia of 198.4 PJ/yr (according
to Vuk et al., 1998), shows that an appropriate
utilization of geothermal resources would ensure
their contribution of 6.7%. Comparison of the same
figure with the total primary energy supply, 348.0
PJ/yr, means the potential provides 3.8% coverage
of the energy needs of the country. In the case
of heat pumps, which means we consider geothermal
water outlet temperature down to 25°C, the contribution
of geothermal to the total primary energy production
and the total primary energy supply would increase
to 9.2% and 5.3%, respectively.
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