GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES AND USE FOR HEATING IN EUROPE

摘要

Europe is the world top leader in geothermal direct uses. Geothermal energy is implemented in 32 European countries. Climate, market demand, reservoir conditions, and ecological reasons favour geothermal uses mainly for space heating, bathing and balneotherapy, than for heating greenhouses, aquacultures, or industrial uses. In a number of countries the development is based on waters exploited from wells up to ca. 3 km deep (e.g. Iceland, Turkey, Hungary, Italy, Germany, and France). Some countries (Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany) have been dynamically developing shallow geothermal use based on heat pumps. Except for Iceland, geothermal is not a main player among renewable energy sources in Europe, although many regions possess prospective geothermal resources (mostly waters) which can be implemented on a wide scale especially for heating - a main factor contributing to the environmental pollutions and GHG emissions. There is no doubt that in many aspects related to the geothermal heating sector, Europe has collected a lot of experience, achieved significant positive results, and owns modern and reliable technologies. They are reliable and economically viable. All these elements make this continent a good example for others to follow. The wider development of RES (including geothermal) in space heating, as well as power generation, and biofuels is foreseen in Europe. This is an indispensable element of the EU energy strategy, i.e. to decrease the dependency of energy imports, to ensure the security of supply and competitive energy prizes. The EU and its member states are also the signatories of the Kyoto Protocol; the EU is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% below the 1990 level in 2008 - 2012, to introduce the emissions trading scheme, energy efficiency (a 20% energy consumption cut by 2020), and a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. The proposal of a new EU-Directive addressing all sectors of renewables shall ease its development; the Directive aims to establish an overall binding target of a 20% share of RES in energy consumption (electricity generation, heating and cooling) to be achieved by each Member State, as well as binding national targets by 2020 in line with the overall EU target of 20%.