grafika ilustracyjnaThe 34th EuroPOWER Energy Conference combined with the 4th RES Power Congress was held in Warsaw on the 17-18 of November, 2021. The debates held during EuroPower and RES POWER included issues related to the strategy for energy transition, the prospects for the development of hydrogen technologies, the modernization and expansion of distribution networks, as well as the development of wind power and large-scale photovoltaic farms.

The Polish Geological Institute - NRI joined the group of partners of both events, and the panel discussion on renewable energy sources was attended by PGI-NRI geothermal expert.

sala konferencyjna podczas debaty

One of the many debates that took place during the Europower 2021 conference

The guest of honor opening the conference was the Minister of Climate and Environment, Anna Moskwa, who in her speech stressed the need for the energy transition of the country, pointed out the most important changes and identified the challenges that Poland will face in the coming years.

- We pay particular attention to the fairness of the changes. In Poland, a country where entire regions and communities are dependent on coal mining and its use, these are key issues. Only a fair energy transition will lead to economic empowerment, leave no one behind, and serve future generations - said Minister Moskwa. - That is why the commitment to carry out the transition in an equitable manner is one of the main elements of the "Energy Policy of Poland until 2040", as well as the basis for the declarations adopted by Poland in the international arena, she added. 
The debate on solutions to support the development of renewable energy sources could not happen without the mention of issues related to geothermics.

Poland has a large potential of water and geothermal energy. Practically two thirds of the area of our country is areas which can be regarded as prospective for the economically efficient use of Earth's heat. These are vast geothermal reservoirs stretching from Szczecin to the Holy Cross Mountains. Practically the whole area of the Sudetes should be regarded as prospective for the exploration of thermal waters. Many locations in the Carpathians and the Podhale basin, which is an absolutely special and unique region for geothermics, are also prospective. Taking into account the energy which can be obtained through ground source heat pumps, the energy of the rock mass can be used practically everywhere.

The panel entitled "RES as a pillar of development and competitiveness of the Polish economy" was attended by Mariusz Socha, Ph.D. - expert on geothermal energy in PGI-NRI, who drew attention to the environmental and economic benefits resulting from the cascading use of geothermal potential.

Panel dyskusyjny o odnawialnych źródłach energii wziął udział ekspert PIG - PIB dr Mariusz Socha (czwarty od lewej)

The panel discussion on renewable energy sources was attended by PGI - NRI expert Mariusz Socha, Ph.D., (fourth from left)

- Geothermal energy is socially acceptable and always available, regardless of weather conditions, which positively distinguishes it from other types of RES. Using the geothermal potential is not only clean and inexhaustible energy, but also economic development associated with increased tourism and growing demand for rehabilitation and cosmetology services - said Mariusz Socha. Our expert also spoke about the activities of the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management supporting the development of the geothermal potential thanks to which the geothermal market has been growing rapidly in recent years.

Dr Mariusz Socha podczas panel dyskusyjnego podczas konferencji Europower 2021

Dr Mariusz Socha podczas panel dyskusyjnego podczas konferencji Europower 2021

The conference was accompanied by an exhibition. At the stand of the Polish Geological Institute - NRI, Mariusz Socha, Ph.D., provided information on thermal water resources, their utilization and prospects. The visitors were most interested in the issues related to the possibility of locating geothermal investments in selected towns with the best financial results. The possibility to obtain a free-of-charge opinion on the geothermal potential in a selected location carried out by PGI-NRI experts was also very popular.

stoisko PIG-PIB podczas konferencji Europower 2021

PGI-PIB stand during Europower 2021 conference

Text: Anna Bagińska, Radomir Pachytel, Mariusz Socha
Photos: Radomir Pachytel, Michał Zieliński
Translated by: Tomasz Trzpil

 

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Participation of PGI-NRI in 34th EuroPOWER Energy Conference and 4th RES Power Congress was realized within the framework of the task: National cooperation in the field of geology and promotion of activities of the Polish Geological Survey in the years 2021 - 2023 and financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.