| Title | Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Portugal |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nunes, J C; Coelho, L; do Rosário Carvalho, M; Garcia, J; Cerdeira, R; Martins Carvalho, J |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Portugal, Azores, power generation, bath spa, direct uses, GSHP, shallow geothermal energy |
| Abstract | In Portugal, the presence of high temperature geothermal resources is restricted to the volcanic islands of Azores Archipelago, located in the North Atlantic Ocean and which are associated with the triple junction of the North American, Eurasian and African (or Nubian) plates. Present investment projects at the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Field on the island of S. Miguel, implemented by EDA RENOVÁVEIS S.A. (former SOGEO – Sociedade Geotérmica dos Açores S.A.), led the installed generation capacity in Azores to a total of 23 MW net, with the contribution of the Pico Vermelho plant (10 MW net), which went into operation in November 2006. Thus, power production from geothermal resources in Azores presently meets about 44% of the electrical consumption of S. Miguel, and 23% of the total demand of the archipelago. Power production is stabilized since 2013. On Terceira Island, evaluation tests of the existing wells were carried out during 2013/2014, and a 3.5 MW pilot power plant is now under construction at the Pico Alto Geothermal Field (PAGF), while deep exploratory drilling at the PAGF is scheduled to 2017. Geothermal continue to be expected to assume an even more impressive role for electric power selfsufficiency of this Autonomous Region of Portugal, particularly in S. Miguel and Terceira Islands. However, its development is now considered in conjunction with other renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy. Low-temperature geothermal resources in Mainland Portugal are exploited for direct uses in balneotherapy and small heating systems. In Portugal, ground source heat pump technology (GSHP) is gaining penetration in the heating and cooling of buildings market. At Madeira Archipelago, in 2013, LNEG, the Portuguese National Laboratory for Energy and Geology carried out for EEM (Empresa Eléctrica da Madeira) a geothermal survey including geological, geochemical and geophysical investigations but the full results are not available so far. |