Geothermal Energy Utilisation Development in Turkey- Present Geothermal Situation and Projections

Abstract

Turkey is located on the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt, which constitutes the major factor in having high geothermal potential. The first geothermal researches and investigations in Turkey started by MTA in 1960ís. Upon this, 170 geothermal fields have been discovered by MTA, where 95% of them are low-medium enthalpy fields, which are suitable mostly for direct-use applications. Around 1000 hot and mineralised natural self-flowing springs exist in Turkey. With the eisting geothermal wells and springs, the proven geothermal capacity calculated by MTA is 2600 MWt (exhaust temperature is assumed to be 40 ?C). The geothermal potential is estimated as 31,500 MWt (5,000,000 residences equivalence). This figure means also that 30 % of the total residences in Turkey could be heated by geothermal energy. Turkey is the 7th richest country in the world in geothermal potential. Most of the development is achieved in geothermal direct-use applications by 51,600 residences equivalence geothermal heating (493 MWt) including district heating, thermal facilities and 454,470 m2 geothermal greenhouse heating. 194 spas in Turkey are used for balneological purposes (327 MWt). Engineering design of more than 150,000 residences equivalence geothermal district heating has been completed. By summing up all this geothermal utilisations in Turkey, the installed capacity is 820 MWt for direct-use and 20.4 MWe for power production in Turkey, where a liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice production factory is integrated to this power plant (Table-1,2). Distribution of the geothermal resources in Turkey according to their temperatures is shown in Figure 1. Geothermal district heating systems (GDHS) are the main geothermal utilisation in Turkey, which have an important meaning to the Turkish citizens who are make use of this system, since, a clean environment and comfort has been provided to residences in more economic conditions. Moreover, the district heating system applications have been started with large scale geothermal district heating systems in Turkey, whereas, the geothermal district heating distribution networks have been designed according to the geothermal district heating system parameters. This constitutes an important advantage of GDHS investments in Turkey in terms of technical and economical aspects.