| Abstract |
The most popular utilization of hot water springs is remaining the balneotherapy. The hot springs which are mainly located in the northern part of the country generate a total heat discharge of 240 MWt. The ten public thermal resorts are using about 40% of this heat discharge. Apart from some direct use in small research projects, the utilization of this potential was reserved to thermalism. But during the last few years, a significant interest for other uses of geothermal water is observed. Three sites have been selected for geothermal aquaculture projects. Fish farms in Ghardaia and Ouargla are using the albian geothermal water of the Sahara to produce about 1500 tons/yr of Tilapia fish. The third site is Ain Skhouna, located near Saida. Geothermal water at 40°C is used to fill ponds. 200 tones of Tilapia fish have been produced during the year 2008. A small geothermal heat pump project has also been realised in this region. The heat pump, a reverse one, is used for heating and cooling 12 classrooms, the library and the restaurant of a primary school. Hammam Sidi Aissa geothermal water (46°C) is used for this purpose. A similar project will be initiated at Khenchla (North East of Algeria). Electricity production from geothermal water is also planned. A private company attempts to install the first binary cycle power plant near Guelma (NE of Algeria). |