Geothermal Water and Energy Uses in Agriculture – Prospects in Poland

Abstract

The agriculture presents one of the most prospective areas for direct geothermal applications. In many countries such uses have already been ongoing. Many new investments have also been observed. In case of agricultural market, the most dynamically growing is the segment of organic food – this fact creates an important argument that ecological geothermal water and energy shall be wider included in the chain of its production and processing. Also Poland has appropriate natural conditions and geothermal potential for agricultural development, as well as for applications related to agriculture. First research and development works on geothermal water and energy applications in agriculture in Poland were carried out in early 1990s. In recent years this subject has been again raising a growing interest, also as an opportunity for sustainable development of agriculture and related activities in nature protected areas and their neighbourhoods. The paper presents current state of geothermal applications in Poland, and also suitable geothermal potential, circumstances, rationale, selected relevant estimations and proposed zones in the country for the deployment of geothermal water and energy uses in the agricultural sector of the country.