Geothermal Development in Greece-Country Update 2020-2023

Abstract

Geothermal energy is used only for direct utilization in Greece. The total installed capacity is about 277 MWth, exhibiting a very small increase (~6 %) since 2020. Direct uses include greenhouse heating, balneotherapy and ground-source heat pumps, the latter constituting the largest geothermal application (191 MWth) in the country. Other, small scale, applications are a couple of spirulina cultivation units, soil heating and a small dehydration plant, that use fluids with temperatures up to 60?C. Moreover, the first geothermal district heating project will be completed and delivered later this year in the area of Anthia-Aristino (Thrace, northern Greece). Geothermal power generation is still zero; however, the cooperation of the Public Power Corporation-Renewables with the private sector (?ELECTOR SA), established in 2020, is expected to bear fruit in the near future, with the exploitation of the medium/high enthalpy resources of Milos-Kimolos islands, Lesvos island, Methana peninsula and Nisyros island and the construction of small pilot plants (5-8 MWe). Due to the covid-19 pandemic and the suspension of all activities, geothermal exploration was limited and concerned only the further investigation of low temperature resources in northern Greece.