Analysis of changes in the utilization of thermal water and geothermal energy in the north great plain region (Northeastern Hungary)

Balázs Kulcsár

doi:10.5937/geopan1202056k

Abstract

Probably, the most urgent problem of mankind in the 21st century to find a way to satisfy the energy demand of the world’s population - having reached seven billion people in 2011 - preferably from renewable sources, by endeavoring to apply environmentally sparing methods. From Hungary’s perspective, it is a goal of priority significance, as it is an area that is not abound in fossil energy resources, and thus becoming increasingly exposed to the energy policies of the producer countries. If Hungary, which has favorable endowments in the field of renewable energy resources, lays larger emphasis on the application and processing of environmental industry technologies, the economic vulnerability of the country can be mitigated. This study discusses the distribution of the utilization of geothermal energy and its carrying medium, thermal water among the sectors of the economy, as well as its changes over time, the utilization potentials of alternative energies in the northeastern region of Hungary. This region has outstanding facilities in the field of thermal water and geothermal energy resources, yet their utilization rate - with respect to the available thermal water capacities - is rather low. It is a consequence of the regulatory requirements posed on operators, high investment and maintenance costs, the general shortage of resources, the difficult situation of the industries and municipalities, as well as the fact that the solid and liquid media of energy storage lying at depths of thousands of meters, the methods and potentials of exploitations, their sustainability are not or are just partly known.

Highlights

The focal point of this study is the analysis of the northeastern part of Hungary in terms of economic geography, from the perspective of trends in the utilization of thermal waters and geothermal energy
The studies have investigated the extent of the utilization of geothermal energies, the fields of economy and public administration that are covered by their use
Since 1915, the North Great Plain Region has witnessed the drilling of 305 thermal wells that have served versatile purposes of utilization from bathing to agriculture, from industry to communal water supply

Summary

Introduction

The focal point of this study is the analysis of the northeastern part of Hungary in terms of economic geography, from the perspective of trends in the utilization of thermal waters and geothermal energy. The studies have investigated the extent of the utilization of geothermal energies, the fields of economy and public administration that are covered by their use They have further wanted to find out for the satisfaction of what economic demands thermal wells were originally established in the region, how the goals of operation changed in the course of operation, and how the sectoral distribution of the utilization of the wells looked like in 2011. The number of the wells that are currently out of use as a result of the termination, dissolution of the earlier operator–consumer has been established These investigations have relied on quantitative and deductive methods, including the analysis and processing of the data and information that are available at the regional directorates of water management, and besides empirical studies have been performed in the course of which the associated statistical figures have been updated

Kulcsár Balázs

Findings

Conclusions