Lithuania - Geothermal Energy Country Update

Abstract

Lithuania is situated in the eastern part of the Baltic sedimentary basin overlying the western margin of the East European Craton of the Early Precambrian consolidation. The basin contains all Phanerozoic systems. The thickness of the sedimentary pile is 200 m in southeast Lithuania and 2300 m in west Lithuania.
The new maps of the potential of the major aquifers were compiled for Lithuania. The maps are prepared for applied use and indicate the heat energy capacity of the duplet of wells (MW). They are based on the detailed assessment of the reservoir properties and temperatures of the aquifers. The highest potential was estimated for the Lower Devonian aquifer. Its capacity is in the range of 2-10 MW (wells duplet) in west Lithuania. The average depth of the aquifer is 1 km. The Cambrian aquifer has lower capacity, the geothermal potential of wells duplet is in the range of 1.5-3.5 MW, the depth ranging from 1.5 to 2 km. Also the possibilities of electricity production using HDR are investigated.
Klaipeda Geothermal Demonstration Plant was built in 2000 and started producing heat. On June 2004 State Commission confirmed it’s capacity of 35 MW (geothermal part 13,6 MW). Due to decrease of injecting capacity in wells the plant was stopped for repair in 2007. Now plant is on operation again. Since 1996 geothermal small-scale heat pump systems for heating at single-family houses are under installation in Lithuania (total capacity more than 30 MW).