Slovakia’s first planned geothermal power plant completes EIA process

Planned geothermal plant at Presov, Slovakia (source: PW Energy)

The geothermal power project planned by PW Energy in L’ubotice near Prešov, Slovakia has received a positive opinion following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). With this development, the geothermal project can move on to the next stage of implementation.

The planned geothermal project has a target capacity of 6.5 MWe. This will generate electricity for about 20,000 households. However, there is enough potential in the area to support an expansion to about three times this capacity. If the results of the seismic survey are confirmed, the project is expected to be completed by 2028.

To this day, geothermal springs in Slovakia are used only for heat production and recreation. With geothermal power, Slovakia not only obtains a new emission-free source of electricity, but also further reduces its dependence on energy imports from Russia and other parts of the world.

Project history

The main investor for the geothermal project is PW Energy, a company founded together with business partner Ivo Šafrank by the former director general of the National Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and the former head of the Košice city housing company Milan Jankura.

Previous studies have indicate the existence of a potential geothermal resource in L’ubotice, which was supported by an extensive seismic survey done from 2018 to 2022. An exploratory well will be drilled to a depth of 3500 to 4000 meters to verify the deep geological structure and hydrothermal conditions in the area. Based on current data, geothermal water at a temperature of 140 degrees Celsius is expected.

The first phase of the project will cost up to EUR 64 million. PW Energy has managed to attract the first investor of the project – the financial group Wood & Company, which will provide financial as well as logistical support. The group has taken a minority stake in the company. A total of three production wells are planned as part of the first stage of the project, which will then be supplemented by the same number of reinjection wells.

“Before that, we have to choose a drilling contractor. We already approached potential interested parties with the initial technological specification, and an international tender will follow,” explained Project Manager Michal Mašek.

According to Mašek, the use of residual heat on several levels is one of the main benefits of the project. Hot water from the geothermal system can also be supplied to a centralized heating system, providing heat to households in Presov and in agricultural facilities.

Greater subsidy support needed

The owner of the project emphasizes that geothermal power projects need not only the acceleration of permitting process, but also greater financial support.

“Until recently, it was extremely difficult to draw European funds for geothermal projects in Slovakia, and the developed program challenges are still missing. Without them, or without another form of investment or operational support, it is not possible to implement the development of this renewable resource to the necessary extent,” points out Jankura

PW Energy, through its subsidiary, PW geonergy has another geothermal power project under development in the district of Ziar nad Hronom. This project is also at the final stages of an environmental impact assessment.

Source: Pravda