Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. It is extracted through deep boreholes tapping into hot water or steam underground. Iceland generates over 90% of its home heating and electricity through geothermal energy. While geothermal potential is large, its use depends on specific geological conditions. Poland has begun developing geothermal energy projects like the Geotermia Podhalańska initiative providing heat to Zakopane hotels. Exploration is also underway on the Canary Islands like Tenerife to assess geothermal resource potential for sustainable energy development.

1. I N P OL A N D & T E NE R I FE
Geothermal Energy

2. What is geothermal energy?
Energy can be obtained not only from the power of the
elements such as the sun, wind or water. Efficient sources
are also located deep below the ground surface.

3. Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is nothing more than thermal energy from the inside of the Earth.
The higher and closer to the surface, the lower the temperature - the drop is even 80
° C per kilometer. As a result of convection, i.e. the movement of matter related to
temperature differences, this transported thermal energy accumulates in rocks and
water deep under the Earth's crust. This heat either accumulates below the surface,
lying at depths, or it comes out - a phenomenon visible in the form of geysers.
Geothermal energy cannot be used to the same extent everywhere. Its effectiveness
depends on geographic conditions, and more specifically geological ones, related to,
among others, with volcanic activity or infiltration of rainwater.
Acquisition of geothermal energy is based on its extraction by means of boreholes
several kilometers deep. For this reason, it is the most difficult renewable energy
source to use, as it requires advanced technology and large expenditures. However,
the principle of operation itself is quite simple.

4. Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy, both around the world
and in Poland itself, is not the most
popular renewable energy source.
However, its potential is huge. The whole
is based on the so-called hot springs and
for many people it is certainly associated
with Icelandic geysers. Iceland is an
excellent model for harnessing energy from
within the Earth. In this country, more
than 90% of the energy used for heating
comes from geothermal energy. Electricity
is also increasingly generated from a
renewable source.

5. Advantages of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is a great alternative to traditional methods of heating with
the use of boilers or gas. It is also a modern way to obtain electricity. What
are the advantages of using geothermal heat energy?
 Certainly, there is no emission of harmful substances to the atmosphere and
it is renewable. Its generation does not adversely affect the climate or the
environment.
 From a practical point of view, geothermal energy is also a good choice. It is
independent of weather conditions and its power is evenly distributed
throughout the year.
 Geothermal energy can also be used on a smaller scale than using deep,
several kilometers long boreholes. At the level of an individual household,
there is usually a so-called shallow geothermal energy.

6. Disadvantages of geothermal energy
A renewable source of energy from within the Earth also has its
drawbacks and disadvantages.
 One of them is that it is not possible to use it in every area. First of all,
not everywhere are equally effective sources (i.e. those with an
appropriate temperature). Secondly, even if they are somewhere below
the surface, sometimes it is so deeply embedded that it is not profitable
to mine it.
 In terms of the use of geothermal energy, the technology of obtaining it
is also a downside. The point is that you need all the infrastructure, a
drilling system - so it is quite an expensive solution.

7. Strokkur Blesi geyser in Iceland

8.  Iceland benefits from the unique conditions created by its
geographical location. Natural geysers are a typical view
there. The power that lies underground is shown by the
largest - one of them - Steamboat Geyser, located in the
Yellowstone National Park in the USA, ejects water up to 90
meters, and rising steam is at 92 ° C. The amount of heat
stored inside our planet is huge and amounts to approx. 35
TW.

9. Steamboat Geyser, the USA

10. Geothermal energy in other countries
In addition to Iceland, the use of geothermal energy is
also developing in the aforementioned United States,
as well as, inter alia, in Turkey, New Zealand,
Indonesia and the Philippines. However, you do not
have to look far, because geothermal energy is also
used in Poland.

11. Geotermia Podhalańska - Poland
The best example of this is a large investment called
Geotermia Podhalańska - it supplies 90% of hotels in
Zakopane, providing them with heat. The project is still
being developed and more and more farms from Małopolska
join it.
The PGP-1 borehole

12. How did geothermal energy begin to be used in Poland?
Deposits were often discovered when looking for something completely
different - crude oil. This was the case, for example, in the vicinity of
Bańska Niżna. Today, the search for the possibility of obtaining energy
from geothermal waters is already an end in itself, and its sources are
more and more often managed - geothermal power plants are in
Mszczonów, Poddębice, Pyrzyce and Uniejów. These are investments
focused on obtaining heat, not electricity. Thus, geothermal energy in
Poland is doing quite well, but there are still unused areas of
geothermal waters that provide opportunities for new investments.

13. Geothermal Energy in Poland
Geothermal energy in Pyrzyce
Geothermal energy in Bańska Niżna

14. Geothermal Energy in Tenerife
Surface explorations were being conducted on the islands of Tenerife,
Gran Canaria, and La Palma. Within the past 500 years, there have
been 14 volcanic eruptions in the Canary Islands. The rich, volcanic
history of these islands has already made them predisposed to the
potential of being explored for geothermal resources. The project
Termovolcan aims to promote the development of geothermal energy
through the objectives of designing and developing innovative
geophysical and geochemical methodologies that will improve the
exploration of geothermal resources in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La
Palma.

15. Geothermal energy in Tenerife:
 The geothermal potential of
Tenerife is a challenge to the
sustainable development of
the island.

16. THANKS FOR WATCHING 