News

President of Poland sees geothermal as one of the most promising sources of renewable energy

President of Poland sees geothermal as one of the most promising sources of renewable energy President of Poland, Andrzej Duda (source: flickr/ Kancelaria Prezydenta)
Alexander Richter 9 Nov 2018

Congratulating geothermal heating company Geotermia Podhalanska in Zakopane, Poland on its 25th anniversary, Polish President Andrzej Duda, highlights "geothermal energy [as] one of the most promising sources of renewable energy" in Poland. With the great opportunities for heating it can play an important role for the country.

In a letter on the 25th anniversary of Geotermia Podhalanska, a geothermal heating company in Zakopane, Poland, the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, described “geothermal energy [as] one of the most promising sources of renewable energy.”

“The resources of heat obtained from the inside of the earth are huge and practically not exhausted. It is increasingly used by many countries and societies. I am glad that Poland has also a significant success [in the utilisation of geothermal energy]. The achievements of Przedsiebiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej Geotermia Podhala?ska are a beautiful example “- Pawe? Salek, president’s adviser on environmental protection and climate policy, read in the letter.

The President also congratulates and sent a tribute to all who “create the achievements of this well-deserved company”. The president also thanked all individuals and institutions that “implement the valuable path of geothermal energy with commitment”.
Andrzej Duda reminded that Geotermia Podhala?ska played a pioneering role in this field 25 years ago in Poland.

“Geothermal means clean air and protection of the natural environment. Skilfully using its own resources Podhalanska nurtures and multiplies its unique resources “- concluded the president in the letter.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also addressed the ceremony. The Prime Minister pointed out that thanks to the efforts of people creating geothermal systems, “there is a chance to protect the natural environment of Podhalanska, save his exceptional natural and tourist values”.

“We want our children and grandchildren to admire and enjoy the unique beauty of this region. The natural environment is our common good. Care for ecological education as well as ecological and economic benefits from the production of heat from geothermal sources make your company one of the leaders of modernity and modernization of Poland, “wrote the Prime Minister.

Minister of the Environment, Henryk Kowalczyk, in his letter, stressed that Poland possesses exceptionally rich renewable energy resources.

“Given the high potential of geothermal deposits and favorable geothermal conditions in Poland, the development of geothermal and geothermal energy is also one of the most important goals of the Ministry of the Environment. The increase in the use of renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy, is of key importance for Poland’s further economic development, “reads the minister’s letter.

Kowalczyk added that the example of Geotermia Podhala?ska shows that it is worth investing in geothermal water deposits.

Przedsiebiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej Geotermia Podhala?ska SA has three wells for extracting hot water, and plans to drill another, likely deepest well in Poland to a depth of over 5,000 meters.

The geothermal heating is used for houses, hotels and public utilities in Zakopane and in the municipalities of Szaflary, Bia?y Dunajec and Poronin. There are also plans to develop a heating network in the municipality of Nowy Targ.

“After a long investment period – nearly PLN 260 million (EUR 60 million) over the years 1998 – 2017, half of which is subsidies – in drilling, geological and hydrological research, or costly construction from scratch of the heating network, in 2008 we went to plus and from this time the company makes profits “- said the president of Geotermia Podhala?ska, Wojciech Ignacok.

The largest Polish geothermal energy company was created on the initiative of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in 1993, which is its main shareholder with 90.5 percent. action. Before the establishment of the enterprise in 1989-1993 in Ba?ska Ni?na, the first Experimental Geothermal Plant of the Polish Academy of Sciences was designed and launched.

Source: Energetyka 24