Geothermal Budapest

Abstract

Hungary is known for its good geothermal potential and Budapest, its capital, is especially well provided for in this regard. Thermal water has been used there since ancient times and even now its famous spas are a major source of Budapest’s popularity among tourists. Until recently, however, there was no accurate yet practical publication to comprehensively and graphically describe the geothermal resources of Hungary and its capital. This was remedied in 2016 with the publication of the Geothermal Atlas of Hungary, which was followed by a similar geothermal atlas for Budapest in 2018. Both atlases were commissioned by the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (HEA). The Budapest geothermal atlas aimed to comprehensively analyze the city’s geothermal energy potential while suggesting possible ways to satisfy Budapest’s heating and cooling demands. The scale of this ambitious and difficult project required specialized contributions from a range of professionals, including geologists, hydrogeologists, civil engineers, architects, and city planners.