Analysis of the Sustainable Use of Geothermal Waters and Future Development Possibilities—A Case Study from the Opole Region, Poland

Boguniewicz-Zabłocka Boguniewicz-Zabłocka,Łukasiewicz Łukasiewicz,Guida Guida

doi:10.3390/su11236730

Boguniewicz-Zabłocka Boguniewicz-Zabłocka, Łukasiewicz Łukasiewicz + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236730

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Abstract

To achieve future energy policy goals, efficient energy systems based on geothermal water should be used more widely. The presented case study from the Opole region in Poland shows that there is great potential for investors interested in recovering geothermal energy in new facilities, for example to heat the domestic districts. The geological structure of the Opolskie Voivodship demonstrates the presence of rich geothermal water resources. Currently, these resources are not used for power engineering in the Opole Region, except for in a few passive houses. The existing boreholes have waters which reach temperatures ranging from 20 to 90 °C and prove that the region displays a high energy potential. The results from the calculations here show that the use of three low temperature geothermal intakes could be possible in three locations, namely in Grabin, in the area of Nysa, and in Wołczyn. This could generate thermal energy at a level of 34 GWh/year. This corresponds to the heat demand of approximately 1150 detached houses with an area of 150 square meters. The results show that thermal energy for a medium size housing district can be supplied from a single borehole. The temperatures of water in the analyzed intakes determine their method of use as a lower heat source for heat pumps.

Highlights

Implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Directive (2009/28/EC) and the need for the limitation of emission effects, including smog, in urbanized areas result in increased interest in investments in the geothermal industry
In the Philippines, dependence on imported oil has decreased by 95% due to the introduction of an energy plan mainly involving the use of renewable energy sources [7,8,9]
The thermal power and energy supplied by the geothermal heating boiler station can be approximated if the following are known: mass m of the water from the deposit, temperature T1 of the water from the intake bore, temperature T2 of the return water pumped to the absorbent hole

Summary

Introduction

Implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Directive (2009/28/EC) and the need for the limitation of emission effects, including smog, in urbanized areas result in increased interest in investments in the geothermal industry. One of the most efficient and environmentally friendly types of renewable energy is geothermal energy. One of the countries where geothermal energy sources are increasingly being used is The Netherlands. Their main emissions goal is reducing CO2-equivalent emissions by 49% by 2030, and by 95% by 2050, in comparison to 1990. Due to the fact that Turkey is an energy-importing country, it needs to use its sustainable sources to reduce this costly dependence. For this reason, geothermal power is a wise choice, because it is economical, domestically obtained, and an environmentally friendly energy source. In the Philippines, dependence on imported oil has decreased by 95% due to the introduction of an energy plan mainly involving the use of renewable energy sources [7,8,9]

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