Rig assembly ongoing for geothermal drilling in Jelenia Gora, Poland
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Assembly of the drilling rig is ongoing in Jelenia Gora, Poland for the drilling of an exploration well to evaluate the potential for geothermal heating.
Assembly of the rig has started in preparation of geothermal drilling in the city of Jelenia Gora in Lower Silesia, Poland. The drilling contract has been awarded to ALGEO and the drilling location of the C-3 geothermal exploration well had previously been identified on Cieplicka Street in Sobieszow.
In late 2024, Jelenia Gora secured a PLN 18.8 million award from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOSiGW) for the drilling of a geothermal exploration well. The total cost of the well is estimated at PLN 23 million (approx. USD 6.2 million), with the rest of the cost funded by the city.
Drilling is planned to a target depth of 2500 meters. Based on previous studies, thermal waters at 90 – 100 ºC are expected at this depth. As explained by ALGEO CEO Zbigniew Derengowski during the signing of the contract, drilling is estimated to take between 4 to 6 months because of the hard granitic rock underneath Jelenia Gora.
The local government owns about 14 hectares of land in the area of the well which can be used in the future to build a recreational complex connected to the thermal waters. The city also already has a preliminary agreement with the ECO heating company for the use of geothermal water to heat parts of Cieplice and Sobieszow. Jelenia Góra Mayor Jerzy Luzniak calls on municipal companies to implement the investment for further development, similar to the other spa towns in Poland.
The project stakeholders clarify that there is yet no certainty that a thermal complex will be built, as all these plans are contingent on the positive outcome of geothermal exploration drilling. After drilling, comprehensive hydrogeological studies and documentation will be done before further investment decisions can be made.