Successful completion of the pilot investment at Pušćine Branch School accompanied by a study visit of Danube GeoHeCo project partners

The Pušćine Branch School has become an example of the successful application of shallow geothermal energy in public buildings within Medjimurje County following the successful completion of a pilot investment at the end of May 2026. The investment was implemented as part of the international project Danube GeoHeCo – Fostering the Implementation of Shallow Geothermal Hybrid Heating and Cooling Systems in the Danube Region.

The pilot investment was led by the Medjimurje Energy Agency Ltd. (MENEA), which is implementing the Danube GeoHeCo project in cooperation with the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering of the University of Zagreb and 11 additional partner organizations from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Serbia. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region Programme 2021–2027.

The investment in Pušćine included the installation of an innovative hybrid heating and cooling system in which a ground-source geothermal heat pump covers the building’s base thermal demand, while the existing natural gas heating system serves as a backup during periods of lower outdoor temperatures. This solution provides a highly energy-efficient, reliable, and sustainable approach to heating the school building while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Implementation activities began in March 2026 with the drilling of two geothermal boreholes and the installation of the associated piping system connecting the ground source to the school’s boiler room. Following the completion of drilling works, a geothermal heat pump was installed and integrated with the existing gas-based heating system. Final system adjustments and testing were carried out during May, and the official handover between the investor, supervising engineer, and contractors was successfully completed at the end of the month.

The importance of this investment was also recognized by the Danube GeoHeCo project partners, who visited the Pušćine Branch School on 12 May 2026 to learn more about the progress of the Croatian pilot investment. The study visit was organized immediately after a visit to the project’s Slovenian pilot site at the Kindergarten Martjanci, where a similar pilot investment was implemented as part of Danube GeoHeCo project.

The visit brought together representatives of Medjimurje Energy Agency Ltd., Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering of the University of Zagreb, Local Energy Agency for Pomurje, and Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS). Participants were presented with the progress achieved so far, the technical characteristics of the newly installed systems, and the expected energy and environmental benefits. Particular interest was shown in the guided tour of the newly established boiler rooms and demonstrations of the operation of the implemented hybrid geothermal systems.

The study visit provided an excellent opportunity for project partners from Croatia and Slovenia to exchange experiences regarding the implementation of pilot investments and to discuss challenges and opportunities for replicating similar solutions in public buildings across both countries. Participants emphasized the importance of international cooperation and knowledge transfer in the field of geothermal energy, whose potential remains significantly underutilized throughout the region.

Such activities represent one of the core values of the Danube GeoHeCo project. By connecting experts, institutions, and local communities, the project aims to increase the deployment of shallow geothermal energy as a renewable energy source and support the transition towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

The successful completion of the pilot investment at the Pušćine Branch School marks an important step towards improving the energy performance of public buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the experience gained throughout the preparation and implementation of the pilot investment will serve as a valuable foundation for the development of future geothermal projects and the acceleration of the green energy transition at both local and regional levels.