Geothermal energy and other RES use possibilitiesof Hungary and Budapest with surroundings

(Pest County)

State of the Art of the country and local possibilities

Project: GeoSEEActivity 3.1 in WP 3

Compiled by: Biocentrum Ltd.

ContentList of figures.......................................................................................................................................2List of tables.........................................................................................................................................21. Geothermal resources of Hungary....................................................................................................31.1. High temperature geothermal potential of Hungary......................................................................31.1.1. Pannon basin klastic thermal potential.......................................................................................41.1.2. Karst thermal potential...............................................................................................................41.1.3. Budapest thermal karst spas.......................................................................................................51.1.4. Budapest area thermal caves of World Heritage.........................................................................71.1.5. Use of RES sources in Hungary.................................................................................................71.1.6. Use of geothermal water sources................................................................................................81.2. Geothermal exploitation places in Pest county (case study)........................................................91.3.1. Low-enthalpy geothermal potential of Hungary.......................................................................111.3.2. Low enthalpy geothermal energy direct use technologies .......................................................131.3.3. Geothermal indirect electricity production ..............................................................................141.4. Proposals for geothermal and RES use pilot project areas..........................................................142. Biomass energy use in Hungary.....................................................................................................163. Wind energy use in Hungary..........................................................................................................164. Solar energy use in Hungary..........................................................................................................175. Biogas energy use in Hungary........................................................................................................176. Small hydroelectric power use in Hungary....................................................................................187. Development plans of RES use until 2020.....................................................................................19Bibliography, general sources.............................................................................................................19

List of figuresFigure 1. - Position of Pannonian basin in Central EuropeFigure 2. - Heat flux in Pannonian basin and its surroundings of Central Europe (mW/m2)Figure 3. - Underground heat flux in Hungary (mW/m2)Figure 4. - Temperature at the base of Pliocene-Pleistocene unitsFigure 5. - Széchenyi thermal medical spa in Városliget (Town park) in BudapestFigure 6. - Karst aquifer outcrop and thermal bath (Rudas spa) on the Danube bank in Budapest Figure 7. - Sources of renewable energy, as they are understood in HungaryFigure 8. - Proportions of several RES sources in overall RES use in HungaryFigure 9. - Proportions of several RES and alternative sources in produced and sold electric energy (2010) Figure 10. - Accessible wellhead temperatures of thermal water (30-100 oC)Figure 11. - Places with medicinal /balneological/ waters in Hungary (balneological spas)Figure 12. - Power plants in HungaryFigure 13. - Electric power plants in HungaryFigure 14. - RES use for electric energy production in HungaryFigure 15. - RES use for heat energy production in HungaryFigure 16. - RES use for energy production altogether in HungaryFigure 17. - Average wind potential in Hungary, velocity in heigth 100 m, m/sFigure 18. - Wind energy use in HungaryFigure 19. - Global horizontal solar irradiation in Europe, kWh/m2

Figure 20. - Summarized time of solar irradiation in Hungary, hours/yearFigure 21. - Solar battery production launched in Szolnok townFigure 22. - Biogas plants in HungaryFigure 23. - Pálhalma Biogas plant near DunaújvárosFigure 24. - Hydroelectric power plants in HungaryFigure 25. - Example of big plant: Kisköre dam on Tisza riverFigure 26. - Small water energy plant: Ikervár dam on Rába riverFigure 27. - RES sources use in Hungary in 2010 year and planned use in 2020.Figure 28. - Planned RES sources use in Hungary in 2020 year, kilotons

List of tablesTable 1. - Quantity distribution of geothermal wells in Hungary, based on wellhead temperature and type of water

utilization (after A. Toth, 2010)

Table 2. - Locations of geothermal water exploitations in Budapest and Pest county

Table 3. - Share of low temperature geothermal sector (heat pumps) in the RES energy use of HungaryTable 4. - Position of geothermal sectors of Hungary within the EU27 according to NREAPTable 5. - Thermal output, costs and aid intensity of heat pump systems due to be installed by 2020Table 6. - Proposal summary for financial aid to heat pump systems installations

1. Geothermal resources of Hungary

1.1. High temperature geothermal potential of Hungary

In Hungary, there is a huge potential of exploiting geothermal resources. The reason is that main part of Hungary is the Pannonian basin, the largest intermountain basin in Europe. Due to this in the Pannon basin part the temperature of the rocks and underground water in 2000 m depth one and the half time higher in average than in Europe (Fig.1.).

In Hungary the geothermal gradient (indicating that how many °C is the increment of temperature per depth-unit) is 5 o

C/100 m being about one and a half times bigger than the worldwide and Europian average. The reason for this is that in the Pannonian basin including Hungary the earth-crust is thinner (as thick only as 24 to 26 km) than the worldwide average of 30 to 35 km. Moreover the basin is filled up with well insulating clayey and sandy sediments. The measured values of thermal flux (i.e. the heat-output coming from large depths) are high (90 mW/m2 as an average) while the average is 60 mW/m2 in the European continent. The year mean atmospheric temperature is about 10 °C on the surface of the country.

Fig. 1. Position of Pannonian basin (dark yellow) in Central Europe

Due to the intermountain basin position of Pannonian basin, shortly described above the heat flux from beneath is much higher in the whole Pannonian basin (Fig. 2.) and in Hungary (Fig. 3.) than in other parts of Europe.

It is seen from the map that in the central part of Pannonian basin, in Hungary the heat flux reaches 70-100 mW/m2, when in Carpathian mountains and below Adriatic Sea basin this value is 20-40 mW/m2.

Fig. 2. Heat flux in Pannonian basin and its surroundings of Central Europe (mW/m2)

In accordance with the geothermal gradient mentioned above the temperature of the rocks and that of the water contained by them is 60 °C at the depth of 1 km and 110°C at the depth of 2 km. In the South- Transdanubian region and in the Great Hungarian Plain the geothermal gradient is higher than the countrywide average while it is lower in the Kisalföld region and in the hilly areas. Water moving upward in the thermal wells cools down along the casing therefore the temperature rarely exceeds the 100 o C on the surface, on wellheads.

Fig. 3. Underground heat flux in Hungary (mW/m2)

1.1.1. Pannon basin klastic thermal potential

Main geothermal resources are connected with the deep layers in the basin (layers with deeper position below Pliocene-Pleistocene cover) in two lowland parts of Hungary: Alföld (Great Hungarian Plane) and Kisalföld region (Small Hungarian Plane) and in the deep karst geothermal system in western, central and northern montainous parts of Hungary. Picture of temperatures at the base of Pliocene-Pleistocene units are shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Temperatures at the base of Pliocene-Pleistocene units

Steam occurrences of large depth from boreholes are known only in a few, not sufficiently explored sites in the middle of Pannonian basin (Fábiánsebestyén, water and steam temperature up to 140 oC).

1.1.2. Karst thermal potential

The other big geothermal potential is connected with very thick karstic layers, mainly in the middle mountains of Dunántúl (Transdanubian) region and mountains Bükk in Northern Middle Mountains of Hungary. Thermal springs are connected mainly with tectonic zones. One of most important tectonic zone is situated in the capital town Budapest, alongside the Danube river that flows here in this tectonic preformed valley. This way Europe's largest naturally outflowing thermal water system can be found in western area of Budapest.

The springs and wells that supply the famous baths of Budapest discharge from a regional Triassic carbonate rock aquifer system. As the result of the interaction of discharging waters and carbonate rocks, extensive cave systems has developed and still developing today. These caves belong to the group of hypogenic caves, and their special morphology and peculiar minerals make Budapest, beside the city of spas, also "the capital of caves". According to the recent developments in the speleogenetic theories, hypogenic karsts and caves are viewed in flow system context, and can thus be considered as the manifestations of flowing groundwater.

Being a marginal area at the boundary of uplifted carbonates and a sedimentary basin, the Buda Thermal Karst serves as a discharge zone of the regional fluid flow. This implies that it may receive fluid components (karstic and basinal) from several sources resulting in a wide range of

discharge features including springs, caves, and mineral precipitates.

Discharge areas of the Buda Thermal Karst were investigated to determine how the discharging fluids and adjoining phenomena (e.g. caves, mineral precipitates) can be telltales of their parent fluid systems, the processes acting along the flow path and operating directly at the vicinity of the discharge zone. A comprehensive hydrogeological study was carried out for the investigation of these phenomena and for the characterization of processes acting today at the discharge zone of the Buda Thermal Karst. Methods included hydrogeochemical, mineralogical and microbiological investigations.

Among the results of the study, several processes were identified which can be responsible for cave development and formation of minerals, among them mixing corrosion and microbially mediated sulphuric acid speleogenesis have crucial role. Furthermore, the role of the adjacent sedimentary basin was reevaluated.

Based on the results of study |8|, the Buda Thermal Karst area was divided into two subsystems for which new conceptual flow and process models were developed. These results bring a new insight into the processes acting in the regional discharge zone of a karst aquifer system, which could be also responsible for hypogenic cave development. The Buda Thermal Karst system can be considered as the type area and in same time the modern analogue for hypogenic karsts. The research was supported by the Shell E&P and the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund OTKA.

1.1.3. Budapest thermal karst spasThermal karstic waters in Budapest area are used in spas famous from ancient Roman and

Turkish times. Most of springs are not only thermal but medical water quality as well. The most famous bath in Budapest is Széchenyi spa (Fig. 5.).

The exceptional qualities and medical use of karstic thermal water in Budapest are connected with exquisite characteristics of rocks and of the deep karstic reservoir and fissures, fractures and caves in rocks that is connected with tectonic zones. Detailed knowledge of sedimentary features from microscopic to regional scales is regarded as crucial in reservoir characterization and prediction of deep geothermal systems. On the eastern, Pest side of the Danube, karst is in basement conditions, thermal water is supplied by deep (mainly more than 1000 m) wells.

Fig. 5. Széchenyi thermal medical spa in park Városliget in Budapest

Generally, in the early stages of reservoir exploration, characterization of the reservoir is accomplished by evaluation of drilling data and seismic surveys. However, for reservoir prognosis, the main geothermal parameters such as permeability, thermal conductivity, and reservoir heat flow have to be quantified with respect to a 3D structural model. Outcrop analogue studies serve to predict such subsurface thermophysical properties, and based on detailed facies analysis, the geothermal exploration concept becomes more precise and descriptive.

Data from the Meso- and Cenozoic sedimentary series of Budapest include carbonates and clastic sediments of Triassic, Eocene, and Oligo-Miocene age as well as Pleistocene travertine, exposed on the western side of the river Danube. Typical appearance of Mesosoic dolomites in

tectonic zone on western bank of Duna (Danube) river is shown on the picture taken and issued by Mr. N. Goldscheider (Fig. 6.).

Field and laboratory analyses reveal distinct horizons of different geothermal potential and thus, enable us to identify and interpret corresponding exploration target horizons in geothermal prone depths of the Pannonian Basin. Upper Triassic limestones (Main Dolomite, Budaörs Dolomite, Mátyáshegy Limestone) show values of thermal conductivity in the range of 2,0 to 3,5 W/(m·K). Matrix permeabilities measured with a gas mini-permeameter span in the range of 10-12 to 10-14 m2. These limestones and dolomites are highly fractured and show a different degree of karstification increasing the fluid migration, of cold and thermal water.Fig. 6. Karst aquifer outcrop and thermal bath (Rudas spa)

on the Danube right bank in Budapest

Hydrothermal exploration of such limestone reservoirs in geothermal prone depths of about 5 km known from the Zala and Danube basins of Western Hungary is seen very promising. Miocene bioclastic limestones (e.g, Tinnye Limestone) reveal lower values of thermal conductivity in the range of 1,0 to 1,5 W/(m·K). On the other hand, they are characterized by much higher permeabilities (10 to 12 m2). Depending on their occurrence in the deep subsurface, they might be considered as reservoir rocks. Marls and travertines show values of thermal conductivity in the range of 2,0 to 2,5 W/(m·K). Matrix permeabilities of marls are low (10 to 16 m2), whereas travertines are characterized by the highest permeabilities up to 10-11 m2.

Both, marls and travertines are not considered as deep geothermal reservoir rocks: marls due to their low permeabilities, and travertines due to their occurrence mostly in surface outcrops.

Clastic sediments of Palaeogene and Neogene ages are grouped into low permeable and low heat conducting clays (e.g. Kiscell Clay), and high permeable, high heat conducting sandstones (e.g. Hárshegy Sandstone). Thus, hydrothermal exploration of high permeable sandstone reservoirs in geothermal prone depths known from different basins in Hungary (e.g. Great and Small Hungarian Plain) is also seen very promising. Based on these preliminary results, further outcrop analogue studies will serve as a powerful tool to predict such subsurface properties and thus, finally lead to a better understanding of deep geothermal reservoirs in the Pannonian Basin.

1.1.4. Budapest area thermal caves of World Heritage

In Hungary and especially near Budapest there are many caves connected with former activity of thermal waters and springs. Several of these caves have unique minerals and are included in World Heritage Fund.

Pál-völgy cave of thermal water origin situated in the second district of the capital was discovered in 1904 while quarrying. Its explored length of 7.4 Km makes it the third longest cave of Hungary. A 500m section of it can be visited since 1919. The galleries of the maze system are decorated with characteristic dissolution forms and mineral precipitations as well as with dripstones

at some places.

Szemlő-hegy cave found in 1930 while quarrying at a distance of 800 m from Pal-volgy cave. It was the first Buda cave where the thermal water origin was recognised. The narrow, high passages are richly covered by popcorn formations resembling of cauliflower and grapes. The 2200 m long cave called by the discoverers the underground flower-garden Budapest was opened to the public in 1986.

Ferenc-hegy cave was discovered in 1933 during drainage groundwork. The labyrinth system with a total length of 4100 m is found on a relatively small area. Scallops and ‘gun barrals' are known only from this cave. Botryoids are the most frequent speleothems.

Mátyás-hegy cave is found very close to Pal-volgy cave. They have very similar morphology, the two systems must have been on a cave in the past however, we don't know the present connection between them. Matyas-hegy cave was discovered in the 30's, the present length is 4900 m. The deepest point of the cave is at 113 m above sea level, where it reaches the present karst level.

József-hegy "crystal" cave was discovered in 1984, which length is about 4800 m today. The largest hall in the cave with its 70 m length, 15 m width and 20 m height is one of the biggest hydrothermal chambers in the world. Jozsef-hegy cave is the richest in speleothems. Aragonite needles, multi-generated gypsum crystals, snow-white calcite botryoids make the cave really beautiful.

The Molnár János cave at the present base level is the only active one in the area, which passages deep down below the karst level and is known only by the divers. Its length is 400 metres. Mixing of waters of different temperatures can be measured within the system.

By the initiative of Ministry for Environment and Regional Policy of Hungary and Hungarian Speleological Society, these caves are included into World Heritage List.

1.1.5. Use of RES sources in Hungary

From renewable energy sources - biomass, geothermal, wind and solar energy and hydroenergy - in Hungary, as it is understood acc. to Fig. 7.), on country level not the geothermal resources are the main RES use form: they have all in all 8,2%, with this the have the second position, as solid biomass use has 11 times more: 89,6% (Fig. 8). All the other RES forms have aproximately 2%.

Fig. 7. Sources of renewable energy, as

understood in Hungary

Fig. 8. Proportions of several RES sources in overall RES

use in Hungary

Fig. 9. Proportions of several RES and alternative sources in produced

and sold electric energy (2010)

Proportions of renewable energy parts (Fig. 8.) are present in Hungary as follows: Solid biomass: 89,6%, Geothermal energy: 8,2%,Water energy: 1,7%,Solar energy: 0,3%,Wind energy: 0,1%.

If to see together the RES and alternative energy sources in Hungary (Fig. 9.), several other

alternative sources are added: hydroelectric power generation, energy from biogas and wastes. Theirs proportions in electric power generation (in 2010 year altogether 2595 Gwh) are as follows:

Biomass: 64,6%Wind energy: 20,1%Hydroelectric power: 7,3% (from it small /<5 MW/ plants: 2,6%)Wastes: 5,1%Biogas: 3,0%.

This is seemingly a contradiction, if to compare with data of Fig. 8., but the explanation is, that geothermal energy is not used for electric energy generation in Humgary. This is because geothermal waters, being medical ones, are counted as too valuable source to use for simple electric energy generation. This conception might be changed in future, especially under pressure of energy dependance of the country, but now this concept is the main base for balneological use of geothermal sources in Hungary.

1.1.6. Use of geothermal water sources

Geothermal water resources are used in Hungary mainly in thermal baths, spas. Water use can be connected with medicinal treatments as water is known as medical /balneological/ water. Wellhead temperature are connected mainly with position of the town and spa within the Pannonian basin (Fig. 10.). Places in Hungary, where thermal waters are in the same time medicinal, is shown in this sketch map below (Fig. 11.). As it is seen, these thermal water uses are concentrated in the Pannonian basin part and in karstic basins (see in blue on Fig. 10.) of Hungary.

Fig. 10. Accessible wellhead temperatures of thermal water (30-100 oC)

Fig. 11. Places with medicinal /balneological/ waters in Hungary (balneological spas)

There are altogether over 900 used thermal wells in Hungary and theirs number is continuously growing. Besides spa use, thermal wells in big quantities are used in Hungary also in water supply and in agriculture. Data upon these and other types of thermal water use is included in table as follows:

Water temperature, oC

Use of thermal water

Water supply

Spa Agriculture Communal Industrial Multi-purpose

Altogether

30-40 203 73 73 1 44 6 400

40-50 30 118 17 2 13 17 197

50-60 7 50 15 2 11 13 98

60-70 - 33 17 1 6 29 86

70-80 - 9 17 5 6 16 53

80-90 - 3 20 1 3 5 32

90-100 - 3 33 5 1 - 42

> 100 - - 1 - - 1 2

Altogether: 240 289 193 17 84 87 910

Table 1. Quantity distribution of geothermal wells in Hungary, based on wellhead temperature and type of water utilization (after A. Toth, 2010)

1.2. Geothermal exploitation places in Pest county (case study)

Pest county is situated in the middle of country and characterized in the west by karstic thermal reservoir and shallow Pannonian klastic reservoir in the eastern part. Due to this thermal waters are centralized in Budapest area, near Danube shore as thermal karstic springs and in the eastern county part, where the Pannonian basin is deep enough (Albertirsa-Cegléd region). In the very northern part of Pest county there are thick vulcanites, andezites on the surface that cover the termal karstic basement (Visegrád area). Here is a unique thermal spa (Visegrád-Lepence) based on a drilled borehole that gets termal karstic water from limestone under the andezit deposits. Water is used in a hotel and the spa is under reconstruction now. No. Location Form of

water intake

Usage Status Water tempera-ture (ºC)

Water minera-lization (mg/l)

I. International significance

1-9. Budapest, Buda side of Danube

Springs, horizontal shafts, drilled wells

Spas (6 pcs) and plages (3 pcs)

Exploited 26-40 Up to 1070

10-14. Budapest, Pest side of Danube (incl. Margaret Island)

drilled wells Spas (3 pcs) and plages (2 pcs)

Exploited 26-76 Up to 1775

15. Visegrád-Lepence drilled well, 1302 m

Spa under reconst-ruction

39 1726

16. Leányfalu drilled well, 1008 m

Spa Exploited 53,4 1610

II. Regional significance

17. Gödöllő drilled well Spa Exploited 50-60 nd.

18. Albertirsa drilled well, 640 m (2pcs)

Spa Exploited 39-41 3887

19. Cegléd drilled well, 1000 m

Spa Exploited 54 2064

20. Ráckeve drilled well, 1040 m

Spa Exploited 52 1328

21. Vác drilled wells Plage Exploited 27-29 nd.

22. Szentendre drilled well Spa Exploited 26-32 nd.

III. Local significance

23. Mogyoród drilled wells Summer plage

Exploited 26-35 nd.

24. Göd drilled wells Spa Exploited 26-32 1814

25. Nagykáta drilled wells Spa Exploited 25-27 nd.

26. Szigetszentmiklós drilled wells Spa Exploited 27-38 nd.

27. Tóalmás drilled well, 870 m

Spa Exploited 47,5 nd.

28. Tápiószentmárton drilled well Spa Exploited 24-36 1244

29. Abony drilled well Spa Exploited 24-38 nd.

30. Veresegyház drilled well Spa Exploited 30 nd.

Table 2. Locations of geothermal water exploitations in Budapest and Pest county

1.3.1. Low-enthalpy geothermal potential of Hungary

Hungary has big potential of low temperature geothermal energy. In spite of that use in 2010 was only 0,25 PJ, and according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) in 2020 the planned use should reach 5,99 PJ, so the increase rate must be 24 times (Table 3.).

Table 3. Share of low temperature geothermal sector (heat pumps) in the RES energy use of Hungary

Hungary now has and will have in 2020 by plan the following positions among the 27 EU countries.

Segments/ Position among the EU27 2010 2020

Ground heat pumps ~18-21 ~8-11

Direct heat supply with thermal water production 3 3

Electricity production 6-27 6

Table 4. Position of geothermal sectors of Hungary within the EU27, according to NREAP

Main reason for low level of use is lack of support in financing such heat pump projects. Analysing this, NREAP suggests the following projects and action plan with aid amounts to rise support aid up to 40 % (Table 5.).

Heat pump project type Project number

Total heat output, MW

Total project costs, M Ft

Proposed aid intensity on average, %

Total amount of support, M Ft

Small-size ground source heat pump (10 kW on average) 20 000

200 63 000 40

25 200

Large-size ground source heat pump (40 kW on average)

1000

400 64 800 40

25 920

Other heat pump systems 200 32 400 40 12 960

Total: 800 160 200 40 64 080

Table 5. Thermal output, costs and aid intensity of heat pump systems due to be installed by 2020

According to the plan, the following actions should be taken and the proposed amounts of support must be targeted (Table 6.) for reaching the targets of action plan.

Action Sub-actionProposed amount of

support, M Ft Target

Information campaign,dissemination

Development of online platform based on professional database

50 Total population, publicity

Awareness-raising programmes, information campaigns

200Those interested in renewable energy

sourcesModernising regulation 6 sub-actions 150 Total population

Project supportsHeat pump installation 64 080 Investors

Mandatory off-take tariff 3 070 Operators

Training 3 sub-actions 300 Experts

Development of standard designs

2 sub-actions 100 Potential investors

Domestic heat pumpproduction

Making plans of eligible types of heat pumps

50 Potential heat pump producers

Setting up production and assembly lines, distribution

systems

4 000 Heat pump producers

Total: 72 000

Table. 6. Proposal summary for financial aid to heat pump systems installations

Here are twoo good examples of heat pump system installations in Budapest and nearby, in Pest county.

Block of flats in Hun street, BudapestA block of 256 flats with approximately 1000 residents. A system of 3 units of water-to-water heat pumps is applied. The wells with a depth of 15 meters supply a 15°C water temperature both during the winter and summer. The water is recovered with a temperature of 7-8°C. The system includes 4 generating wells and 6 draining wells. This new scheme ensures 30 % energy saving for the residents. The maximum generated water temperature is 62°C which belongs to -15°C outdoor temperature. The heat pump of 245 kW coupled with a 6 000-litre buffer tank supplies domestic hot water for the residents. The heating system comprises a 245 kW heat pump and 3 units of 45 kW built-in heating cartridges to meet the heating demand of the building with a maximum of -15°C outdoor temperature. Up to now lower than -14°C outdoor temperature has not been recorded, this is why the heating cartridges have not been applied yet. The heat pump is ranked A category according to the energy classification system. SPF index is 3.2.

Telenor Headquarters Office, Törökbálint, Pest countyThe office has a floor space of 26,520 m2, the total area of the site including the parking lots is 26,520 m2, which comprises 1200 working units. Only 7.55 % of the 8-hectare area was built in against an allowed 30 %, and over the required 40 % of green area, 69 % was left as green area. The vertical geothermal ground source probe system is presently the second largest in Hungary, and the 8th in the order of similar projects in Europe. Solar collectors with a total surface of 168 m2 provide 60-70 % of the hot water demand of the staff. Based on the modelling of the probes area, 180 units of ground source probes provide the heating capacity (862.2 kW) and the cooling capacity (965.7 kW). The distance between the probes is 7 meters at a depth of 100 m. The probe area is located under the parking site far from the building. The 180 units of ground source probes are coupled in 3 collecting shafts which are linked to 3 units of heat pumps in the engine room. The operation of the heat pumps is controlled by BEMS, which, accord- ing to the outdoor temperature, allows each heat pump to operate either in heating or cooling modes. An external electric control system and an automatic regulating system provide continuous communication with the monitoring staff of the building.

1.3.2. Low enthalpy geothermal energy direct use technologies

There are also around 1400 thermal water wells and 800 around them are using 450 M m3 water per year in Hungary. Geothermal heating by thermal wells was already used during Hungary’s Turkish occupation (1541-1699) for spas. In the town of Szentes, thermal-heating systems operate for many thousands of inhabitants, including flats and municipality run institutions for more than 50 years. More than ten Hungarian cities run their district heating systems and spas on geothermal energy, e.g. Veresegyház, Mórahalom, Cserkeszölő, Hajduszoboszló, etc.

Fig. 11/1. Spa „Szent Erzsébet” in Mórahalom Fig. 12/2. Centrally directed geothermal district heating system in Mórahalom

Approximately 420 acres (200 ha) of glass and plastic covered greenhouses are heated with geothermal energy in Hungary. In addition, 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of temporarily covered plastic tents of “tunnels” are also heated. Vegetables are grown in about 25% of the greenhouses covered by glass and in 95% of those covered with plastic. The most important vegetables grown are pep-pers, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Fig. 11/3. Greenhouse technology in Gödöllő Fig. 11/4. Indirect electricity production on geothermal base

1.3.3. Geothermal indirect electricity production

Geothermal energy resources can be used indirectly through electricity generation. Threetypes of geothermal electricity plants are operating today:

- Dry steam plants, which directly use geothermal steam;

- Flash steam plants, which produce steam from hot pressurized water;

- Binary cycle plant;

Of these types, binary cycle plant is best suited for low enthalpy resources.

Despite the relatively high number of direct use low enthalpy geothermal applications, geot-hermal electricity production is not being used in Hungary, however the country has all the necessa-ry conditions to realise it.

1.4. Proposals for geothermal and RES use pilot project areas

In Hungary there are two regional areas where geothermal (low temperature) and other RES use is possible and pilot projects can be proposed in frame of the present project:

1. lowland area close to Great Hungarian plane (Alföld)2. area with hills and medium high mountains (Mátra mountains).

In accordance with this for pilot project area within GeoSEE project two concrete areas can be proposed, both with area of about 30 km2 (approx. 5x6 km), as follows.

1. Lowland area: Area Vecsés – Budapest XVIII. District, a Budapest suburb and the XVIII. district area of Budapest capital.

The whole area is part of Pest plain east to the Danube river. Here combined use of low temperature heat pump system and solar energy use can be proposed as pilot projects:

1.1./ heating of culture centre in Vecsés town.

As another concrete pilot project object in XVIII. District can be proposed:

1.2./ a distant heating-cooling system on the base of low temperature geothermal energy combined with solar heat collecting system and outer isolation of buildings for a block of flats, or, an administrative building

1.3./ for Budapest Airport: capacity extention of existing RES system, containing solar heat collecting system and experimental small capacity wind turbine, with possible extention of the system by use of heat pumps.

Fig. 11/5. Proposed object: Vecsés Culture Centre, heating-cooling: heat

pump + solar heat system

Fig. 11/6. Proposed object: Budapest XVIII. District distant heating of

block of flats, heat pump + solar heat system + isolation

Fig. 11/7. Proposed object: Budapest XVIII. District: Budapest Airport:

capacity extention of solar heat collectors + wind turbine

2. Mountainous area: Area Gyöngyösoroszi in Western Mátra mountains, which is part of the southern slope of a volcanic mountainous area with former ore mining acticity, remains of a huge volcanic caldera, with tectonic faults and water springs („Csevice”) of postvolcanic origin. Here a pilot project could contain:2.1./ for building of postgraduate education centre: combined method of low temperature heating and hot water supply by solar heat collectors,2.2./ for RES based electric supply of both postgraduate education centre and wood processing factory: solar photovoltaic system electric power generation. If capacity -and the legislation about RES based electricity input into net system to be changed by that time- allow, some quantity of the produced electricity could help in supply of the Gyöngyösoroszi village administrative building.

Fig. 11/8. Proposed object: Gyöngyösoroszi-Károlytáró, postgraduate education centre, heating-cooling system of the

building: heat pumps + solar heat collectors

Fig. 11/9. Proposed object: Gyöngyösoroszi-Károlytáró, wood industry factory: electric supply by

solar photovoltaic system

2. Biomass energy use in Hungary

Biomass use in Hungary has 64% of the whole RES use in electricity production (Fig. 9.). Several power plants that have been working on coal or lignite, partly or fully change their row material base for firewood or RES part of solid wastes. As examples can be mentioned the following power plants: Pécs, Ajka, Oroszlány, Mátra (Visonta), Borsod (Fig. 12.). Most of them use firewood as renewable biomass source, but there is a plant under construction (near Szerencs

town) that will use straw as biomass base.

Fig. 12. Power plants in Hungary,yellow: biomass based

Fig. 13. Electric power plants in Hungary on bases: coal, oil and gas, nuclear

Future use possibilities and plans until 2020 year are quite big: RES use of electricity on biomass base from 3000 GWh should increase to 6500-7000 GWh, and for heat energy production from 40 PJ the increase is planned approximately 10-12% (see Figures 14-16.).

Fig. 14. RES use for electric energy production in Hungary

purple: biomass

Fig. 15. RES use for heat energy production in Hungary

purple: firewood, biomass

Fig. 16. RES use for energy production altogether in Hungary

purple: biomass

Source: 4Biomass international project, Energy Centre

3. Wind energy use in Hungary

Wind energy potential of Hungary is quite big and this sector is the fastest growing lately in Hungary. The wind potential is the best and new plants are concentrated in western and central parts of the country (Fig. 17.). Just now there are 17 wind plants with capacity altogether almost 20 MW (19675 kW) (Fig. 18.).

Fig. 17. Average wind potential in Hungary, velocity in heigth 100 m, m/s

Fig. 18. Wind energy use in Hungary, 19,675 MW. Source: Hungarian Wind Energy Society

Use of wind based energy in future definitely will grow.

4. Solar energy use in Hungary

Solar energy possibilities of Hungary are great, one of the best in Central Europe (Fig. 19.). In the middle and southern parts of the country the solar radiation time is over 2000 hours/year (Fig. 20.).

Fig. 19. Global horizontal solar irradiation in Europe, kWh/m2

Fig. 20. Summarized time of solar irradiation in Hungary, hours/year

Fig. 21. Solar battery production launched in Szolnok town (Solar

Energy Systems Ltd.)

Expectations in Hungary against solar energy use are high: by 2020 share of solar energy is planned to increase from 0,25 PJ in 2010 up to 3,73 PJ in 2020, so the increase rate must be some 15 times. For this reason the solar battery production is launched in some places in the country (Fig. 21.)

5. Biogas energy use in Hungary

Just now there are 60 biogas use plants in Hungary and several ones are under construction. Biogas as row material for plants can have different origin: it is generated either from biomass, or comes out from waste dumps or water treatment plants, or it is a by-product of industrial process, for example sugar production (Fig. 22.). One of the first plants is in Dunaújváros-Pálhalma (Fig. 23.), where the plant is based on 100 000 ton/year organic wastes including agricultural wastes and even food remainings and the built-in cogeneration units electric production capacity is 1,7 MW.

Fig. 22. Biogas plants in Hungary. Source: Energy4farms

Fig. 23. Pálhalma Biogas plant near Dunaújváros

There are many locations where a foundation of new biogas plant is announced. One of last announcement is the Békés town biogas plant of 1,3 MW capacity.

It is expected that this kind of RES sources will increase from 0,3 PJ in 2010 up to 4,6 PJ in 2020, so the increase rate must be at least 15 times.

6. Small hydroelectric power use in Hungary

There are 2 big capacity (>5 MW) and 7 small capacity (<5 MW) hydroelectric power plants in Hungary (Fig. 24). They have 4,0 % and 2,6 % share in electric energy production of the country (Fig. 9.). The biggest water power plant is in Kisköre, on Tisza river (Fig. 25.), that gives a huge artificial lake in the middle of Great Hungarian Plane (Alföld) with measures comparable to well-known lake Balaton, the Hungarian Sea. The small capacity water power plants are concentrated in western subalpine and northern Borsod hill parts of the country, on tributaries of water systems of rivers Rába (Fig. 26.) and Sajó-Hernád.

Fig. 24. Hydroelectric power plants in Hungary

Fig. 25. Example of big plant: Kisköre dam on Tisza river

Fig. 26. Small water energy plant: Ikervár dam on Rába river

Hungary is not rich in own mountainous region surface water resources, good for dam and power plant construction. Therefore, plans until 2020 are not ambitious: share of water energy is planned to be the same, around 1 % of RES energy use.

7. Development plans of RES use until 2020

According to Action plan until 2020 year /2/ RES sources in Hungary are planned to be used with an average increase of more than 2 times: from 55 PJ to 120-121 PJ in 2020 year (Fig. 27.).

Fig. 27. RES sources use in Hungary in 2010 year and planned use in 2020.

Source: Action plan /4/

Fig. 28. Planned RES sources use in Hungary in 2020 year, kilotons. Source: Green-X

Light green: RES based energy in transport: 1863 ktYellow: RES based electric energy altogether: 481 ktDark green: RES based energy in heating-cooling: 534,9 kt

If to see the planned main sectors of RES sourced energy use (Fig. 28.), then transport could be the most important RES energy user with planned 1863 ktons, before the heating-cooling systems (planned 535 ktons) and on the third place is RES electric energy production with planned 481 ktons of use.

Bibliography, general sources

1. P. Liebe: Groundwaters in Hungary. Guide. Ministry of Environment and Water. 2002. Part: Temperature of groundwaters, the geothermal situation

2. Ministry of Development of Hungary: Action plan of Hungary upon use of Renewable Energy Sources between 2010-2020. In Hungarian. 220 pages.

3. L. Batocletti, B. Lawrence and Associates, inc.: Geothermal resources in Hungary. 71 pages.

4. A. Toth (University of Miskolc): Hungary Country update 2005-2009 (Proceedings World Thermal Congress 2010., Bali). 8 pages 5. Renewable Energy Potential Study of Szentes. Interreg IVC proposal material. October 2012. 100 pages.

6. Hungarian Mining and Geology Office: Geothermal report on concession area of Gödöllő. March 2012. 163 pages.

7. Sz. Leél-Őssy et al.: Minerals and speleotherms of the József-hegy Cave (Budapest, Hungary). International Journal of Speleology. July 2011. 12 pages.

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9. A. E. Götz et al.: Thermophysical properties of potential geothermal reservoir rocks: an outcrop analogue study of the sedimentary series of the Buda Mts., Hungary

10. Ministry for Environment and Regional Policy &Hungarian Speleological Society: Caves of Budapest. World Heritage List.

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12. N. Goldscheider: Challenges and Advances in Karst Hydrogeology. Karlsruher Institute für Technologie, Div. Hydrogeology, Flowpath, Bologna, 2012. 63 pages (Part: Importance of

geothermal resources in karst aquifers).

13. Action plan on low enthalpy energy utilization in Hungary until 2020. 44 pages. In: www.geo.power-i4c.eu