| Title | Geothermal Energy Use - Country Update for Poland, 2013-2015 |
|---|---|
| Authors | K?pi?ska, B |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | geothermal energy, direct uses, development state, update, Poland, 2015 |
| Abstract | The paper updates the status of geothermal energy development in Poland in 2013–2015 since European Geothermal Congress 2013 (Kępińska, 2013) and World Geothermal Congresss 2015 (Kępińska, 2015). The country has low-temperature resources (connected mostly with Mesozoic sedimentary formations). Their direct applications involve space heating, balneotherapy, bathing and recreation, aquacultures, some minor uses. At the end of 2015 six geothermal district heating plants were operating. Their total installed geothermal capacity was 76.2 MWth and geothermal heat production 227.11 GWh (817.59 TJ). A growing interest has been continuing in recreation and balneotherapy: the group of 7 new centres and 2 health resorts opened in 2006–2012 and reported in 2013 was extended by 6 ones launched in 2013–2015. One may estimate their total geothermal capacities as 20 MWth, and heat uses as 59 GWh (210 TJ) in 2015. In case of ten health resorts using geothermal water for curative treatments, these figures were estimated for 6 MWth, and 14 GWh (50 TJ) in 2015. It is worth to point out the opening of modern atlantic salmon farm using geothermal water in 2015 (ca. 0.6 MWth and 2.8 GWh at initial stage). Other minor uses comprised semitechnical wood drying, and heating up a football playground. These applications represented approx. in total 2.5 MWth, and 1.9 GWh (7 TJ) of heat use. In case of GSHP sector, its development (initiated several years ago) was persisting. One may roughly estimate that in 2015 they reached at least 500 MWth and 714 GWh (2500 TJ) (comparing to 330 MWth and 194 GWh (1700 TJ) in 2013). The progress of GSHPs was part of the progress of whole heat pumps‘ sector. In 2015 total installed geothermal capacity (heat pumps including) was at least 705 MWth while heat production and uses amounted to 1020 GWh (3 672 TJ) comparing to 445.4 and 658 GWh (2370.6 TJ) reported at EGC 2013; Kępińska, 2013). In 2013–2015 eight new geothermal wells were drilled (one was negative). They encountered ca. 30-95ºC waters for bathing, recreation and space heating in some cases. One injection well was deepened. Along with the investment projects various research, R&D, feasibility studies, projects of new drillings and implementation projects were conducted. Some R&D works on prospects for geothermal binary power generation, CHP (based on at least 90–100ºC water) and on HDR/EGS prospects were accomplished in 2013–2014. However, comparing with the resource base and progress in that sector in other European countries, geothermal uses development in Poland has been moderate so far, specially in the heating sector. |