Polski
Projects based on the use of geothermal energy are becoming a reality and offer new opportunities for the Polish heating industry. The opening of Poland’s eighth geothermal heating plant, located in Kole, is another important step toward sustainable energy production. Especially when you consider that there are geothermal reservoirs beneath the surface of nearly half of our country, which could be used to extract clean energy for heating.
Eighth geothermal heat plant in Poland
After almost four years since the signing of the grant agreement for the construction of the geothermal heating plant in Kole, it was officially opened on March 1 this year. The ceremony was attended by Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska and Robert Gajda, vice president of the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund, among others.
The project called Construction of a geothermal heating plant in the city of Kolo with its connection to the existing heating system of MZEC Sp. z o.o. was carried out with the support of PLN 62 million from the National Fund. The work consists of two stages. The first was the drilling of a geothermal well with a depth of 2,950 meters, and the second was the construction of a geothermal heating plant, which was equipped with all the necessary regulatory, safety and measurement equipment necessary to ensure proper operation of the plant. The total cost of implementing the investment is more than PLN 80 million.
The completed investment will reduce the carbon intensity of the district heating system in the region. Geothermal energy will partially replace the coal-fired boilers used to date to produce heat. In addition, it is also expected to have the effect of stabilizing heating prices and attracting new system heat customers.
The development of geothermal in the country allows for the implementation of Poland’s Energy Policy until 2040.
The opening of the geothermal heating plant in Kole is not only a local event, but also an affirmation of the nationwide shift toward a sustainable energy future. The Ministry of Climate and Environment confirms that between 40 and 55 percent of the area. The country has geothermal reservoirs with water temperatures ranging from 20 to 100℃. There are 491 heating plants in their range that could extract geothermal energy for their purposes. Harnessing this potential by investing in geothermal development will certainly enable Poland to move away from coal combustion more quickly.
Geothermal projects are being implemented consistently and in accordance with the 2022 published. by the Ministry of Climate and Environment The multi-year program for the development of the use of geothermal resources in Poland . This program has identified paths for development geothermal in our country by 2040, with an outlook to 2050, and includes nine key areas. One of them is Deep Borehole Heat Exchanger technologies. However, investments of this type are not possible without the cooperation of the government, local governments and financial institutions. Increasing the budget of the NFOŚiGW-implemented priority program called Making thermal waters available in Poland from 300 to 480 million zlotys is an expression of support for projects that change the country’s energy picture.
The geothermal heat plant in Kole is not the last geothermal investment in Poland
The geothermal heat plant in Kole not only reduces the carbon footprint of the city’s district heating system, but also provides a model for future investments. From the perspective of the amount of cost, environmental performance and energy efficiency, geothermal is setting new standards. It is currently the eighth such facility being built in our country. In addition to Kolo, geothermal heat plants also operate in Bańska Niżna (Małopolskie Voivodeship), Pyrzyce (West Pomeranian Voivodeship), Mszczonów (Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Lodz Voivodeship), Stargard (West Pomeranian Voivodeship), Poddębice (Lodz Voivodeship) and Toruń (Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship).
A geothermal heating plant in Sieradz (Lodz voivodeship) and Konin (Wielkopolska voivodeship) will soon be put into operation. Work on their launch is still underway. Also at the implementation stage is an investment in Szaflary (Małopolskie Voivodeship), where the deepest geothermal well in the world is being constructed. It will reach a depth of 7 km.
Test boreholes are also being drilled across the country to assess the potential for using thermal water for energy purposes. Their implementation in many cases is entirely financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The boreholes, along with studies to determine the thermal water resources in the area, have already been completed in seven localities: Sieradz, Kole, Sochaczew, Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Ladek Zdroj, Debica and Sękowa. Another 16 are in the implementation stage. So everything points to the fact that in the coming years geothermal heat plant will no longer be a rarity, but a standard.
Main photo: City Hall in Kole. Opening of geothermal heating plant in Kolo
