Project
Chochołowskie Thermal Baths have undertaken a project aimed at constructing a geothermal cogeneration installation for the production of heat, electricity, and cooling, integrated with a photovoltaic power plant and an energy storage system (project acronym: HYDRO-GEO-SOLAR, hereinafter referred to as HGS).
The initiative is co-financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management under Priority Program No. 5.18, “Polish Geothermal Plus,” as well as the EEA Financial Mechanism for 2014–2021 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for 2014–2021, within the framework of the “Environment, Energy, and Climate Change” Program (deep geothermal energy).
Project Objectives
The HGS initiative aims to:
- Ensure continuity and reliability of geothermal heat supply for the energy needs of Chochołowskie Thermal Baths;
- Increase the utilization of renewable energy sources (RES) in the company;
Enhance avoided CO2 emissions by reducing electricity consumption from the Tauron SA power grid. - The project’s objectives align with the goals of priority programs aimed at increasing the use of geothermal resources in Poland and reducing the environmental impact of enterprises, including improving air quality through the support of investment projects.
Project Description
To achieve the intended goals, it was necessary to drill a new geothermal well (injection well) and construct renewable energy source (RES) facilities for electricity production. The new well enables sustainable exploitation of the geothermal reservoir in a closed-loop system. The project allows for broader industrial use of the geothermal source, which supplies the existing pool facility and the newly built recreational and leisure area.
Geothermal energy is used to produce:
- Process heat for heating thermal pools,
- Heating for pool facilities (e.g., changing rooms, SPA areas), and
- Heating parking lots.
The project also includes two technologies for generating electricity from geothermal energy:
- An ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) installation with a capacity of 205 kWe, and
- A micro-hydro turbine with a capacity of 45 kWe.
An additional source of electricity in the planned RES installation at the Thermal Baths is a photovoltaic system with a capacity exceeding 700 kWp, located on the surface of the current above-ground parking area.To maximize RES utilization within the company, an energy storage system has been built to optimize energy production, manage energy use, and support charging stations for customers’ electric cars and the company’s technical vehicles. The energy storage system is charged from photovoltaic panels and the ORC installation during off-peak demand periods, with surplus energy used for the internal needs of the Chochołowskie Thermal Baths.
Project timeline:
2020-2021 – Preparation of documentation related to the funding application
2021-2023 – Drilling of the Chochołów GT-1 well (injection well)
2022-2024 – Construction of an energy production installation using geothermal water and an injection system
2022-2024 – Construction of an energy production installation using photovoltaic panels along with an energy storage system
2024-2025 – Calibration of the installation.
Expected Project Results
The expected reduction in electricity demand from the power grid is projected to average 25%, varying by month between 19% and 27%.
The environmental effects of the HGS project include increased avoided emissions as follows:
- CO2: 1900 tons/year,
- SO2: 1691 kg/year,
- NOx: 1567 kg/year,
- CO: 683 kg/year,
- Particulates: 89 kg/year (calculated according to KOBIZE 2019 methodology and indicators).
Additionally, the planned project performance indicators include:
- Electricity production from hydroelectric power plants at the level of 1834 MWh/year,
- Heat production from geothermal energy at 18071,27 MWh/year.
