The Use of Geothermal Energy to Heating Crops under Cover: A Case Study of Poland

Sławomir Kurpaska,Urszula Ziemiańczyk,Anna Krakowiak-Bal,Maciej Gliniak,Mirosław Janowski

doi:10.3390/en14092618

Sławomir Kurpaska, Urszula Ziemiańczyk + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092618

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Abstract

Among the many different applications of geothermal energy, its use for agricultural production purposes is noteworthy. The use of geothermal water in greenhouse cultivation is the most modern form of production; it enables the implementation of the production cycle throughout the year while reducing energy costs. In this paper, based on basic heat transfer relations, the heat demand of modern greenhouse constructions was determined. The monthly and year-round heat demand was determined for facilities with diversified heights of the side walls. Depending on the type of unit of greenhouse area analysed (1 ha), the calculated annual heat demand ranged from 11.05 to 12.46 TJ. Based on data on the geothermal energy potential in Poland, investment costs and payback periods were determined for the analysed locations. The locations of the facilities were selected based on traditions of plant cultivation in the greenhouse facilities and the availability of geothermal energy. The analysis showed that, under the adopted conditions, without additional co-financing, and in one of the considered locations, the investment will result in positive financial effects after 15 years. In the case of co-financing, at the level of currently existing values, all locations—irrespective of the assumed period of exploitation—showed satisfactory financial effects.

Highlights

This work, which considers Polish conditions related to available geothermal energy sources, investment conditions, and current prices, confirmed the following claims
Owing to the use of geothermal energy, this user/owner avoids the high costs of energy services from the grid, which represent a profit to be understood as the value from the investment, which is impossible to achieve without the analysed investment
A limitation of the work results from the fact that the undertaken research is strictly connected with the location; for each location, separate analyses that consider the specificities of geothermal deposits, which are connected with investment and exploitation costs, should be carried out

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Renewable energy sources account for about 28% of the world’s energy resources [1]. Each year, their share of global power demand increases due to the global decarbonisation of the energy sector of the world economy. Renewable energy is a commonly available energy resource, which, with the exception of geothermal energy, is strongly dependent on topographical and climatic conditions and seasons [2].

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