| Abstract |
The main thermal water reservoir systems of Hungary are the Mesozoic carbonate-karstic basement rocks and the Pliocene-Upper Pannonian porous sedimentary formations with more than 1200 thermal water wells, mostly in the low temperature range (30 oC to 100 oC). The thermal water management drinking water (water supply, balneological applications etc.) and the direct energy use (agricultural utilization, space heating, SHW etc.) has to be in harmony with the possibilities and the requirements of the protection of water resources and the environment. The present status of geothermal heat utilization in medical baths and spas is outlined. The potential uses of the geothermal heat of thermal waters with subsequent use for balneological use are estimated. The integrated multipurpose utilization of geothermal fluids in energy cascade use in framework of geothermal pilot projects is playing an very important role, too. Contribution of geothermal energy to the energy balance of Hungary, despite significant proven reserves (with reinjection) of 380 million m3/year, with a heat content of 63.5 PJ/a at T = 40oC, remained very low (0.29). Despite the fact that geothermal fluids with temperatures at the surface higher than 100oC are available, no electricity has been generated. The geothermal water is used only in some spas for space heating and SHW supply although there are 260 spas in the country, and the thermal water produced has an average surface temperature of 68oC. The total heat capacity installed in the spas is approximately 1250 MWt; this is not provided by geothermal but could be, i.e., geothermal could provide more than three times the geothermal capacity utilized in direct uses by 31 December 2003 (342.5 MWt and 2905.3 TJ/year). |