At the invitation of the National Energy Authority of Iceland and the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, PGI-NRI hydrogeologists Tomasz Gągulski and Jakub Sokołowski took part in a training workshop entitled 'Optimal use of geothermal energy in district heating to increase economic, social, environmental and climate benefits'.

The workshop, organised as part of the project 'Capacity Building of Key Stakeholders in the Area of Geothermal Energy', took place on 25-27 April 2023 in Warsaw and included two days of lectures and a technical visit to geothermal heat installations in Mazovia. The training was led by specialists from both the Icelandic and Polish sides, as well as representatives from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

The importance of the event was emphasised by the visit on the second day of the training by Mr Hannes Heimisson, Ambassador of Iceland to Poland.

The training course was attended by some 80 participants, representing key stakeholders for geothermal in Poland: government and local government administrations of various levels, operators of geothermal installations and heat plants, beneficiaries of government financial support programmes for geothermal projects, employees of scientific research units and the state geological survey, consultants, service providers, geothermal drilling contractors and other stakeholders.

Leading experts from Iceland and Poland provided the training on best practices in the use of geothermal energy. The audience was introduced to key policies and strategies for geothermal financing and deployment, as well as public administration activities for geothermal energy development. The environmental and climate benefits of geothermal district heating and the engineering aspects of accessing and exploiting geothermal resources were extensively discussed.

The training was also an excellent opportunity for experts from Iceland to share their nearly 100 years of experience, which should also be used in Poland.

Commemorative photograph of trainees (photo: M. Tyszer)

On the last day of the training, a technical break-out field session was held, during which participants were introduced to the operation of geothermal installations in Mszczonów and Wręcza. An important part of the session was also a meeting with representatives of Mszczonów and Sochaczew, local authorities that are implementing geothermal projects in Poland.

Heat pumps used at one of the Mazovian geothermal facilities (photo: T. Gągulski)

Training participants during a visit to the ‘back office’ of a geothermal recreational facility in Mazovia (photo: T. Gągulski)

Mszczonów IG-1 thermal water intake (photo: A. Kasztelewicz)

New Mszczonów GT-1 thermal water intake (photo: M. Tyszer)

Participation in the workshop allowed experts from PGI-NRI to establish new contacts, both among beneficiaries of aid programmes, as well as scientific institutions and entities related to the geothermal industry in the broadest sense. Gathering valuable experience can support the development of geothermal projects, playing a key role in the activities of the state geological survey, especially in the field of optimal use of geothermal energy and sustainable management of geothermal water resources. The training activities have helped to support and promote the development of geothermal in Poland.

See more: keygeothermal.pl.

Text: Jakub Sokołowski, Tomasz Gągulski