Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping the heat of the earth itself, both from kilometers deep into the Earth's crust in some places of the globe or from some meters in geothermal heat pump in all the places of the planet . It is expensive to build a power station but operating costs are low resulting in low energy costs for suitable sites. Ultimately, this energy derives from heat in the Earth's core.

The potential for renewable energy utilization in Bulgaria has been under exploration since the early 1930. In the mid 1970s, an Institute for Renewable Energy Resources was established for identification and utilization of the existing potential, but state priority investigations were undertaken in the last decade. Bulgaria is rich in geothermal resources. There are more than 840 explored wells/springs with temperature up to 103^oC in about 140 sites.

The geothermal energy resources in Bulgaria are public (state or municipal) property and the most substantial 102 sources are listed in Appendix 2 to the Law on Water (promulgated in the State Gazette Issue № 67/1999).
Estimated theoretical potential for direct-use geothermal systems for explored sources is about 4000 GWh/year, and technical potential is not less than 3000 GWh/year.
At present in Bulgaria the installed capacity of geothermal direct-use systems comes to 94.5 MWth, and annual energy use - to 380 GWh/ year.
Larger part of geothermal energy is used for swimming pools, bathing and balneology. Other small capacity is used for building heating systems, including heat pumps, and a part of the sources are used for direct-use greenhouse heating systems having very low load factors.

1.      On the 18^th of October 2006 in the Town Hall of Sapareva Banja the following investment projects were presented:

- Sapareva Banja - Technical Design for geothermal heating station, district heating and geothermal water network

- Kjustendil - SHR National Complex AD - Detailed Design for geothermal heating station and connection pipelines to Hospital and Polyclinic

- Sandanski - SRH National Complex AD - Detailed Design for geothermal heating station for the Sanatorium

2.      On the 20^th  of October 2006 in the Municipality Information Centre of Velingrad the following investment projects were presented:

- Velingrad - Kamenitza - Technical Design for geothermal heating station and local district heating network

- Momin Prohod - Detailed Design for geothermal heating station,  Pipelines network for children sanatorium buildings

3.      On the 23^rd of October 2006 in the Municipality cultural centre of Pavel Banja  the following investment projects were presented:

- Pavel Banja - Northern part - Technical Design for geothermal heating station, district heating and geothermal network

- Banja, Karlovo region - Detailed Design for geothermal pipeline and geothermal heating station with heat pump for Specialized Rehabilitation Hospitals, National Complex

- Zlatograd - Erma River - Preliminary Design for geothermal pipeline from Gorupso mine well to town of Zlatograd, geothermal heating station and district heating network in the town

  The presentation of the investment proposals developed aimed to create awareness about the possibilities for investment in geothermal projects in Bulgaria through providing information about the nature, the economic and environmental impact of these projects.