| Abstract |
In the Carpathian Basin the countries are primarily dependent on the primary hydrocarbon energies like gas and oil. The prices of these energies have been steadily increasing over the last ten years, and nowadays the communal and industrial users are over the critical tolerance level. This unsustainable status forces the utilization of the alternative energy solutions. In Carpathian Basin on the Pannonian geological platform a geothermal power plant could provide an alternative energy solution booth for communal and industrial users. Hungary and some neighboring countries including Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia in Central Europe, are located in the Pannonian Basin. The Pannonian basin is a Neogene extensional setting formed between the Carpathian and Dinaride thrust belts within the mega-suture zone of the African and European plates with a relatively thin crust; 25 to 35 km thick. The basement of the basin consists of higher thermal conductivity Precambrian-Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks. The basin is filled with lower thermal conductivity Cenozoic sediments, the thickest sequences formed during the upper Miocene, Pannonian age. The Pannonian sediments are multilayered and composed of sand, shale, and silt beds. While the lower Pannonian sediments (e.g. clay, silt, marl) are impermeable, the upper Pannonian and Quaternary formations contain vast porous, permeable sand and sandstone beds formed by the upper Pannonian aquifer. Hungary and its neighboring countries have different primary energy structures but the common feature is hydrocarbon dependency. Social life is getting worse because of the increasing energy prices that have major impacts on different industries as well. The continuing gas crisis makes this socioeconomic life unsustainable. There is a high demand for alternative energy sources for all segments of human life. PANNERGY Plc. launched a giant program three years ago, to explore and utilize the proven geothermal power of the Pannonian basin, to provide sustainable renewable energy for the countries. On selected areas the Municipality Business model was adopted and more than 35 contracts with the Municipalities were signed allowing drilling to commence. |