Danube GeoHeCo: Fostering the implementation of shallow geothermal hybrid heating and cooling systems in the Danube Region

Energy power systems in the Danube Region are mainly based on fossil fuels. To sever energy dependence and confront climate change, municipalities, regions, governments and the EU are forced to reconsider their energy supplies and shift to renewable energies (RE). Switching fossil fuel based heating and cooling (HC) systems to geothermal (or other renewables) is a long, capital-intensive process, which should be promoted.

The Danube GeoHeCo project identifies this problem and intends to increase the use of shallow geothermal energy, as renewable source of energy, through the integration of shallow geothermal solutions into existing HC systems. Hybrid HC systems are cost-efficient and easy to adapt, therefore they could foster a high-level reduction of fossil fuel consumption throughout the Danube Region and beyond. To contribute to this goal, the Danube GeoHeCo project is set out to advance the market penetration of SG solutions and, through the cooperation of partners from different countries in investments, capacity building and knowledge exchange, the project intends to increase the level of expertise and number of professionals available for the sustainable transformation of the energy sector.

The Danube GeoHeCo project foresees and initiates the active role of local and regional authorities in applying effective community-led planning approaches which is a key step in engaging relevant stakeholders. Partners will carry out pilot investments, develop a transnational action plan, which will define actions for fostering shallow geothermal projects and formulate recommendations for removing bottlenecks neglected in existing planning documents. The technological segments of shallow geothermal energy use for HC purposes will be investigated, and as a result an IT decision support tool for designing optimal use of hybrid HC systems will be developed.

Policy objective: A greener, low-carbon Danube Region.

Total budget: 2 481 000,00 EUR

EU co-financing: 1 984 000,00 EUR

Project id: DRP0200244

The project is co-financed by the Hungarian State.

Project website: <még nem tudjuk>

Partners:

Međimurje Energy Agency Ltd. – lead partner, Croatia

CROST Regional Development Nonprofit Ltd., Hungary

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Croatia

Research Burgenland Ltd., Austria

Local Energy Agency Pomurje, Slovenia

Geological Survey of Slovenia, Slovenia

InnoGeo Research and Service Ltd., Hungary

Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, Slovakia

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Faculty of Engineering in Kragujevac, Serbia

Regional Economic Development Agency for Šumadija and Pomoravlje, Serbia

Regional Development Agency Bačka Ltd., Serbia

LIR Evolution, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Associate Strategic Partners:

Međimurje County, Croatia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary

Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, Croatia

Provincial government of Burgenland, Austria

National consortium of energy agencies of Slovenia, Slovenia

Municipality of Moravske Toplice, Slovenia

Association of Hungarian District Heating Enterprises, Hungary

Technical University of Košice, Slovakia

Alba Iulia Municipality, Romania

Slovenian Water Agency, Slovenia

The City of Kragujevac, Serbia

Provincial Secretariat for Energy, Construction and Transport, Serbia

Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina

The City of Laktaši, Bosnia & Herzegovina

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Serbia

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