The main objective of this study was to develop a spatial temperature distribution of the Karkonosze Pluton to indicate optimum locations for HDR systems at drillable depth. HDR geothermal technology makes it possible to extract heat from the Earth in areas where no hydro-geothermal resources are present. To produce electricity in a binary cycle, system temperatures of > 100°C are usually required. In this paper, the authors have analysed the potential opportunities for applying HDR technology in the area of the Karkonosze Pluton, which is regarded as an optimum location for the application of the HDR concept (due to the potential for stimulation offered by the mechanical properties of the granites, radiogenic heat production, modern tectonic activity, and the thickness of the pluton). The model used in the analysis, which takes into account a hypothetical assessment of the manner and paths of fluid migration within the pluton, provides an insight into the spatial distribution of subsurface temperatures. It thus allows the location of relatively shallow high-temperature zones, which are optimal for the efficient application of HDR technology, to be identified. With respect to this technology, the Szklarska Poręba area and the NE part of the pluton seem to be better targets than the Cieplice central area, where the model indicated much lower temperatures (e.g. at a depth of 5,000 m, estimated temperatures in the vicinity of Szklarska Poręba were about 185°C and in the vicinity of Cieplice they were about 140°C).

The aim of the article is a preliminary assessment of the possibility of using ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage) technology for the seasonal storage of heat and cold in shallow aquifers in Poland. The ATES technology is designed to provide low-temperature heat and cold to big-area consumers....

Agriculture is among the most promising applications of geothermal energy, and Poland has conditions to develop geothermal use in this sector. Suitable locations for agricultural geothermal installations shall be selected during the planning stage. To support the selection process, the authors chosed and analyzed thematic maps and other information on basic natural conditions for agriculture in Poland, potential conflicts between the operation of possible geothermal agricultural installations and other important functions of the natural environment, valuable natural areas and protection systems, elements of the current agricultural economy, etc. The authors combined them with the spatial distribution of geothermal reservoir parameters suitable for their agricultural applications using CorelDRAW X7 software. As a result, the regions with prospective geothermal applications in a sustainable agriculture can be identified, while maintaining the existing natural functions of the area. An example is given of the energetic, technical and economic calculations for agricultural greenhouses which can be supplied by geothermal resources in an area with existing natural functions, and a relevant study case is presented. The novel approach described in this paper may serve as an example in other countries of agricultural development with the use of geothermal resources.

In view of the disastrous air pollution in the Silesian–Kraków region, reducing emissions from the combustion of conventional fuels is a particularly important issue. Geothermal energy is among the clean and renewable sources of heat that could be used to this end, for instance for recreation or space heating purposes. However, its use in the region is limited, mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the characteristics of the geothermal complexes present. Mesozoic complexes in the region have much smaller energy resources compared to the Polish Lowlands or Podhale, but Paleozoic ones, mainly the Lower Carboniferous and Devonian, offer realistic prospects for energy extraction. The aim of this study was to identify geothermal conditions within the Lower Carboniferous–Devonian complex, primarily in terms of using the waters present there for space heating purposes. The prospective zones identified and indicated during the research are only forecasts, and their actual utility can only be confirmed after new wells have been drilled to verify the actual conditions.