Geothermal Energy Country Update Report from Poland

Abstract

Poland has large low-enthalpy resources connected with extensive sedimentary geothermal provinces covering ca. 80% of the whole area. The wider geothermal use was initiated in the 1980's. So far, it concentrates on space heating, balneology/bathing, while other uses are on semi-technical scale. In the end of 1999 three heating plants went on-line. In the Podhale Region, the plant supplies over 220 houses and cascades uses'. The large-scale heating project has been developed there for several years. In Pyrzyce town, the heating plant opened in 1996 serves 12,000 customers. The third plant (Mszczonow town) was opened in the end of 1999. Generally, in 1999, the installed geothermal capacity totaled ca. 70.5 MW, (including ca. 26MW from geothermal and ground heat pumps.) The yearly geothermal heat production amounted ca. 280 TJ. During 1995-1999 further geothermal drillings and exploration works were carried out. Several utilization projects have been prepared. Some of them are to be realized in the coming years. Basic researches and high education were gradually instituted.