Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Lithuania

Abstract

Due to peculiar geological conditions (the West Lithuanian geothermal anomaly is the most intensive one in the East European Platform) utilisation of geothermal energy is expedient in Lithuania. Analysis of geological setting and parameters of major geothermal aquifers (Cambrian, Lower Devonian, Middle Devonian) enable to estimate the productivity of the geothermal well doublet in middle Lithuania. It is defined that the Cambrian geothermal aquifer is highly promising for the district heating purposes. The geothermal modelling indicates that temperature 1500C can be met at the depth of 4.2-5.0 km in the southern part of West Lithuania. This area is considered a prospective target for development of the EGS/HDR systems for production of electric power. The area is as large as 2,200 km2. The information on operation of Klaipeda geothermal demonstration plant (KGDP) and the growth of installed capacity of ground-source heat pump systems are also presented in this paper. Two case studies are discussed as good practice examples in Lithuania: first, comparison of Heat pump system with Gas boiler system both installed in the same single family house; second, the installation of geothermal heating and cooling system (with 0.8 MW capacity) in the Solar energy technology center located in Vilnius.