On July 8, 2022, having successfully applied for the Energy and Climate Change Programme, Viktor Lenac Shipyard concluded a Grant Agreement with the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. The grant was awarded for the purpose of implementing a Seawater Heat Pump System Project, which is financed from the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

Project Title: Seawater Heat Pump System - Viktor Lenac Shipyard
Reference Number: 97
Project Start Date: June 1, 2022
Project Finish Date: March 31, 2024
Total Project Value: EUR 480,312.54
Total Grant Amount: EUR 232,583.52
Beneficiary: Viktor Lenac Shipyard

Viktor Lenac Shipyard is one of the largest Croatian shipyards and one of the leading shipyards for ship repairs and conversion, offshore construction and repairs and steel structure production in the Mediterranean. The main activity is construction, overhaul, repair, conversion, and other services related to ships and floating crafts. Shipyard is also registered for organization activities, trade, engineering, and other services.

Aimed at improving energy efficiency in production processes and capacity strengthening to manage sources of renewable energy sustainability, Shipyard has applied for the programme to implement a pilot project and realize an investment in renewable energy technology of seawater-powered energy systems - Seawater Heat Pump Systems or SWHP technology used for heating and cooling.

The planned works will be carried out with the purpose to improve the central heating system and upgrade the system to cooling mode intended for four (4) buildings situated in the Stara Martinscica zone (TOST 2), which is part of the technological complex of the Viktor Lenac Shipyard, under concession of maritime domain.

Currently, the buildings (workshops and office spaces) are heated in a heat transfer process that uses thermal energy from a water-to-water heat pump and electric boilers with a required output of 280 kW (of which 100 kW is used from heat pumps). The existing heat pump uses thermal energy from process water which is further used in the flow system to maintain a minimum temperature of 3°C, however, due to high costs of process water, the heat pump is neither profitable nor energy efficient, and the project goal is to give a specific solution to the identified problem.

The installation of SWHP system will enable that the temperature of the heat source remains relatively constant throughout the year. Due to more favourable seawater temperature parameters compared to process water, the heat performance factor of the seawater-water heat pump is high.

The project goal is to improve the central heating system by installing SWHP system to transfer heat from seawater for heating and cooling building spaces in the Stara Martinscica zone (TOST 2) to use other renewable energy sources.

• Reducing electricity consumption by 155,872 kWh/year
• Reducing CO2 by 36,600 kg/year
• Decreasing heating costs (electricity) through eliminating or significantly reducing use of electric boilers and electric resistance heating
• Decreasing operating costs (maintenance and energy-generating product prices) and upgrading the central system to cooling mode

Person responsible for project implementation: Sandra Uzelac
Project manager: Zdenko Vidmar
Accounting specialist: Divna Pjevalica
Energy specialist: Zoran Dorčić
Project coordinator: Alen Karnjuš
Administrative assistant: Karmen Vlastelica Nimčević

How to mitigate the effects of climate change

On January 18, 2024, the third event in a series was held on climate change adaptation and mitigation and initiatives in the development of environmentally friendly solutions. Presentations covered the new requirements in sustainability reporting due to the entry into force of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in 2023. Examples of good practice were presented at the event. After the welcome speech by Sandra Uzelac, member of the Shipyard Management Board, and the opening address of the SWHP project manager, Zdenko Vidmar, there were presentations by the technical director of Ponikva eko otok Krk d.o.o., Dejan Kosić, entitled "Zero Waste in the Production Cycle", followed by Jelena Festini, sustainability manager of Amelicor Group/Klimaoprema d.d., entitled "Carbon footprint" and the director of Altacon d.o.o., Duško Radulović, entitled "Calculation of climate risks with the CLIMATIG application".

Visit by the Norwegian delegation

The morning of October 7, 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Arne Bjørnstad, accompanied by representatives of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Section for Southeast Europe at the Department for European Affairs and International Trade.

The emphasis of the visit was on the contribution that the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism have in Croatia and on strengthening ties between the two countries. Viktor Lenac shipyard received the grant for Seawater Heat Pump Systems Project, and this was an opportunity to show how the approved funds are used in practice. After the presentation on the status of the project, the member of the Management Board, Sandra Uzelac, took the Norwegian delegation, together with representatives of the project team, on a short tour of the Shipyard. The Norwegian delegation expressed their satisfaction with what they saw, especially the energy savings that the Shipyard has achieved so far through energy efficiency projects.

• Project Status

Panel discussion on low-carbon emitting technologies

On July 12, 2023, a panel was held to discus low-carbon emitting technologies in industry and tourism with emphasis on photovoltaic power plants, heat pump systems for heating and cooling, and e-mobility.

Photovoltaic power plants can cover a significant part of energy needs, especially in tourist facilities. Although there are more and more such projects, for a faster and simpler procedure, changes are needed to the Law on Electricity Market and the Law on Renewable Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration, which are currently in the process of being adopted.

For a faster electrification of road traffic and the breakthrough of e-mobility, a widespread infrastructure of e-charging stations is needed, as well as a change in the paradigm of vehicle use.

Panelists Vedran Krstulović from the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute, Nataša Putak from E.On Hrvatska and Tomislav Ivanteić from Enasol, moderated by Vedran Kirinčić from the Technical Faculty of Rijeka, emphasized the importance of timely planning of projects that can be realized with appropriate financial support - incentives from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and other EU funds.

Presenting the project to the public

Our Seawater Heat Pump Systems Project was presented to the public for the first time through media on February 16, 2023. The presentation was attended by the Deputy Head of Mission, Norwegian Embassy in Zagreb, Homma Latif, who emphasized the importance of renewable energy sources and energy independence in the common goal of creating a stronger and greener Europe.

Member of the Management Board, Sandra Uzelac, expressed her satisfaction that the Shipyard has the opportunity to realize another, very valuable project in the energy efficiency segment, especially because it is a very interesting project of a heat pump that turns seawater into thermal energy. She also pointed out that in addition to new savings and increased energy efficiency, this project is significant because for the first time the Shipyard had the opportunity to apply for the grant.

Project Manager, Zdenko Vidmar, noticed that the Shipyard was going to keep striving to optimize energy consumption with their energy policy, following new technical and technological developments, applying and introducing new technologies and equipment. This project envisages the use of seawater, characterised by more favorable temperature parameters than process water, and for which considerably lower fees have been determined, which will contribute to significant energy savings for the area of application, Stara Martinšćica zone. He concluded that this project is a full hit.

The project will contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen our own capacities for managing renewable energy sources. This pilot project will enable investment in the clean energy production by implementing seawater heat pump systems both in heating and cooling mode.

• Project presentation