Geothermal Potential of Lithuania and Outlook of Its Utilization

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present the geologic and tectonic situation in Lithuaniaís geothermal field, the potential of geothermal energy and efforts to utilize it. Lithuania is located in the centre of Europe within the following geographic coordinates: longitude 20?56'-26?51' E and latitude 53?54'- 56?27' N. It borders Latvia on the North, Belarus on the East and South, Poland and Kaliningrad enclave (Russia) on the Southwest and the Baltic Sea on the West. Lithuania is a country with an area of 65300 square kilometres and population of 3.7 million. (1999). The average air temperature ranges from -3 to -6?C in January, and from +16.5 to +17.5?C in July, and the annual mean varies from +5.1 to +8.5?C. Houses therefore should be heated from October to April. The annual primary energy consumption in Lithuania is 50.8 GJ per capita (1997). The aquifers defined in the sedimentary cover are potential sources for geothermal energy. They are conventionally grouped into several hydro-geothermal complexes. The geothermal resource density of Lithuania is ~ 7.3- 23.4x1010 J/m2. Assisted by the international community, construction of the Klaipeda Geothermal Demonstration Plant is approaching completion. This plant will make use of the Lower Devonian hydro-geothermal complex. Initial drilling has been done for the Vydmantai geothermal plant during its construction, and now there are efforts to continue this work. This plant would use the Cambrian hydro-geothermal horizon. These facilities will be centralized heating plants. At present, only a few small-scale geothermal pumps operate in some private houses.