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ICGC publishes geothermal resource map of Catalonia, Spain

ICGC publishes geothermal resource map of Catalonia, Spain Barcelona, Spain (source: Chris Yunker / flickr, Creative Commons)
Carlo Cariaga 8 Mar 2023

The ICGC has published an interactive map that highlights important characteristics of geothermal resources in the region of Catalonia, Spain.

The Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) has published a map that highlights the location, origin, and characteristics of the geothermal resources in the region of Catalonia, Spain. The map can be downloaded as a document from this link. The ICGC has also provided an interactive map on the project page.

The map documented as “Geothermal Resources of Deep Origin in Catalonia (RGOPCat): synthesis of their potential” is the culminating output of the “GeoEnergia-GP (Deep Geothermal)” project of the ICGC. The initiative to measure subsoil temperatures in the city of Tarragonia had been a part of this effort, on top of consolidating data from previous studies.

The map categorizes geothermal resources into four classes of utilization based on temperatures and chemistry.

  • Class A resources (30 to 60 degrees Celsius) can be used for spas, agriculture or aquaculture, or urban air conditioning;
  • Class B resources (60 to 100 degrees Celsius) can be used for urban and industrial heating and air conditioning networks;
  • Class C resources (> 100 degrees Celsius) can be used for electricity generation;
  • Class D resources have the potential for geothermal lithium extraction.
Screenshot of ICGC Interactive Map showing isotherms at 3 km depth overlaid on a geologic map of Catalonia, Spain (source: ICGC)

Source: ICGC