The city of Bjelovar in Croatia is strongly leveraging a newly discovered geothermal resource to boost the local economy, with a thermal spa facility and business zone both under construction. For both these initiatives, heating supply from the geothermal resource is considered a key enabling factor.
The Koronevo GT-1 geothermal well was drilled in November 2023, and tested in March 2024. Based on testing results, the well can discharge thermal waters at 83 °C and a flowrate of 30 L/s from a depth of 1260 meters. Plans for a thermal recreational facility were announced about a year later under the Terme Bjelovar company.
Construction work on the thermal spa complex commenced by October 2025 with a new name, Wellovar, which happens to be the original name of the city of Bjelovar. The Wellovar Geothermal Sports and Recreation Complex is being envisioned as the most modern thermal spa complex in Croatia, with about 7000 square meters of swimming pools. The total investment for this project is estimated at EUR 41.5 million, with EUR 17 million provided by the EU through the National Recover and Resilience Program.
The opening of the Wellovar thermal complex is scheduled on September 2026 to coincide with the Day of the City of Bjelovar. According to Terme Bjelovar, they are projecting up to 300,000 visitors to Wellovar per year.
Geothermal energy is also a key component of the future Veliko Korenovo Business Zone, for which construction of access roads and infrastructure had just recently begun. With lower operating costs and sustainable business conditions because of the geothermal well, the zone aims to attract entrepreneurs and investors. The project covers an area of about 103 hectares, of which 72 are owned by the city.
Part of the initial work is the construction of the connecting road between Gudovac and the business zone, as well as about 1.5 kilometers of internal roads. Bjelovar Deputy Mayor Igor Brajdic states that all key utility systems will be available in the zone including electricity, gas, water supply, sewage, and telecommunications. The district heating system, supplied by geothermal energy, remains its key advantage.
Brajdic added that the official public tender for the allocation of plots in the business zone with happen in the coming summer. This will signal the start of concrete investments in the region. An emphasis is placed on production facilities as the city wants to develop the zone beyond logistics or storage.
Beyond the current work being done for the thermal spa complex and business zone, the city of Bjelovar is already preparing documentation for a new geothermal well. This is planned to be located within the urban area to provide heating to public buildings including schools and institutions.
Source: Jutarnji, Total Croatia News, and Grad Bjelovar (1 and 2)
