ABSTRACT
The paper gives a brief description of the Ombla Multipurpose Hydropower System in Croatia, conceived as a power generation and water supply project.
The Ombla HPP is located at the underground Ombla River spring area, set deeply in the Rijeka Dubrova ka Bay, in immediate vicinity of the globally famous tourist landmark – the City of Dubrovnik. Since the project site is located in the tourist area of magnificent landscape, the project concept is pervaded by the environmental conservation idea. Thus, all the power plant structures need to be underground and the intrusions in the spring area kept at minimum. The concept is feasible because of the hydrogeological characteristics of the project area. The concept should also resolve functional replacement of structures located above the ground, in the conventional hydropower projects. For example, instead of building an above ground dam for water harnessing in power generation, the natural hydrogeological characteristics of the spring will be used to build an underground dam to impound the water from the natural underground resources.
