AGREB, 17 Aug (Hina) - In a few days the northern Croatian towns of Legrad and Kotoriba will once again become the focal points of research activities related to the exploitation of geothermal waters, continuing a years-long process of assessing this natural resource in the Podravina and Međimurje regions.
According to a statement issued by the local authorities in Legrad,, the upcoming research, is part of ongoing efforts in one of the most promising geothermal areas in the Koprivnica-Križevci County, which also extends into the neighbouring Međimurje County.
"Legrad 1" has already attracted interest from investors and the public due to its potential for clean energy production, as well as due to open questions regarding the environmental and economic impacts of its exploitation.
This time, the company has announced that microgravimetric surveying will be carried out in the "Legrad 1" exploitation field and within the "Kotoriba" exploration area.
This geophysical method measures subtle changes in the Earth's gravitational field in order to reveal the subsurface structure and more accurately locate new geothermal water reservoirs. The measurements themselves are entirely non-invasive, using portable instruments that emit no energy and do not involve any ground drilling.
Ministry Grants Permit to Turkish Company for Geothermal Water Extraction in Legrad
On 6 December 2024, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development issued a decision granting the Turkish company Terra Energy Generation a permit for the extraction of geothermal water in the "Legrad 1" exploitation field.
According to Ivan Sabolić, Legrad Mayor, two boreholes in the area have so far proven to be highly productive. Based on these results, the concession holder has requested the preparation of a Study on the Optimal Technical Connection Solution (EOTRP) in order to connect the future power plant to the high-voltage transmission grid. The problem lies in the fact that HERA (Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency) has yet to determine the unit cost of connecting to the grid. Reportedly, around 90 projects, including solar and wind power plants, are currently awaiting HERA’s decision. Without this decision, it is impossible to obtain the EOTRP.
In addition, a location permit for the power plant in Legrad has also been requested. In the first phase, the Turkish company plans to build a 49-megawatt facility, with a further 49 megawatts to be added in the second phase.