Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Greece (2016-2019)
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European Geothermal Congress 2019 Den Haag, The Netherlands, 11-14 June 2019 Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Greece (2016-2019) Maria Papachristou1, Apostolos Arvanitis2, Dimitrios Mendrinos3, Paschalis Dalabakis4, Constantine Karytsas3 and Nikos Andritsos5 1Department of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece 2 Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 1 Sp. Louis str., 13677 Acharnae, Greece 3Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving, 19th km Marathon Avenue, 19009, Pikermi, Greece 4Institute for Soil and Water Resources, Greek Agricultural Organization “DEMETER”, 57400, Sindos, Greece 5Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, Athinon & Sekeri str., 38334, Volos, Greece [email protected] Keywords: exploration, exploitation, direct uses, numerous low, medium and high enthalpy reservoirs shallow resources. across the country. ABSTRACT The geothermal exploration has thus far identified The most important geothermal activities in Greece thirty two (32) ‘geothermal areas’, within which forty since 2016 mainly pertain to a few new investmentsin five (45) ‘proven' and ‘probable' geothermal fields are the agricultural sector and some under-way exploration located. A significant target of the current (or planned) and exploitation projects. More specifically, during the exploration projects is the investigation of known low past three years, a new geothermal greenhouse unit (3.5 enthalpy areas for medium enthalpy resources that ha) was put into operation, another one was expanded almost certainly exist at larger depths. from 8 to 17 ha and a third (5 ha) is under consideration. Despite the significant high and low-temperature All three units are located in thoroughly studied areas potential, the geothermal resources in Greece remain of Northern Greece, where the easily accessible under-exploited. Only a few new investments have geothermal systems and the strong support by the local been made during the past three years, all in the communities and authorities, have created favourable geothermal heating sector and most of them in economic and social conditions. Furthermore, the first agribusiness. On the other hand, the utilization of geothermal district heating project in Greece is under shallow resources with GSHPs enjoys growing development in Aristino (Thrace, N. Greece). Fluids of popularity and constitutes the larger sector of the 90C will be used for the heating and cooling of twenty domestic geothermal market. (20) public buildings, the heating of greenhouses (4 ha) and the operation of a geothermal pellet unit. A similar The total installed geothermal capacity in Greece has project has been recently initiated in Akropotamos grown by 17% since 2016, mostly due to the new (Strymonikos Gulf) but is still in the early greenhouse units in Northern Greece and the increase implementation phase. GSHPs have a 65% share of the of GSHPs installations. However, among all other country’s total installed geothermal capacity and more renewables, geothermal energy has the smallest share than 3.300 installed units, constituting the lead sector in the country’s energy balance. of the country’s geothermal market. Geothermal power production remains an unattained target, although some 2. ENERGY USE IN GREECE positive steps have been taken during 2018. As regards The Greek energy sector still depends on fossil fuels, to exploration, a few projects are in progress in most of which are imported. The energy requirements Northern Greece (Strymon Basin, Delta Evros, are covered by petroleum products, which are used in Strymonikos Gulf, etc), in known low temperature the transport sector, for heating and for power areas, where new exploration and production wells production (diesel generators in not-interconnected were drilled. islands), natural gas, which is also imported, lignite and renewable energy sources (RES). 1. INTRODUCTION Greece holds a prominent place in Europe in regard to According to the latest available data from EU (EU the existence of several areas with geothermal Energy in Figures, 2018 Edition), the primary energy resources that can be easily and economically production in 2016 was 6.78 Mtoe, exhibiting a exploited. The intense tectonic and volcanic activity significant decrease in comparison to the previous has caused the accumulation of thermal energy in years, whereas the final consumption has been almost relatively shallow depths and the development of flat. The decline in primary production is attributed to the decrease of lignite production for electricity 1 Papachristou et al. generation. More recent data by BP for 2017 (BP Table 3: The sectoral and overall shares (%) of Statistical Review 2018), show that the final energy energy from RES (source: www.ypeka.gr) consumption had a small rise (4%) compared to 2016, the first one since the onset of economic crisis in 2010. 2015 2016 Heating and Cooling 25.61 24.24 The contribution of RES in primary energy production Electricity 22.09 23.80 and gross consumption is 2.501 ktoe (37%) and 2.640 Transport 1.08 1.68 ktoe (9%), respectively (Table 1). Overall share 15.33 15.23 Table 1: Primary production and gross energy 3. NATIONAL TARGETS FOR RES consumption by source type for 2016 (EU Energy in Figures, 2018) The national energy policy is regulated by the National Action Plan 20-20-20, defined by the Law 3851/2010 Primary Gross Energy on “Accelerating the development of RES to deal with Production Consumption Source climate change and other regulations”. In 2010, Greece (Mtoe) (Mtoe) endorsed the National Renewable Energy Action Plan Solid fuels 3.97 4.37 (NREAP), which has set the following targets for RES Oil 0.24 12.23 shares in gross final consumption: Natural Gas 0.01 3.49 Wastes 0.06 0.06 Electricity: 40% Electricity 10.76 Heating & Cooling: 20% Derived Heat 0.05 Transport: 10% Total RES 2.5 2.64 (2Geothermal) (0.05) (0.05) As regards geothermal energy, the target for electricity, All Products 6.72 24.14 heating and GSHPs was set to 120 MW, 51 ktoe, and 1imports 50 ktoe, respectively. 2estimated (GSHPs included). Eurostat: 0.01 Mtoe (GSHPs excluded) The share of RES for heating has already surpassed the The total installed capacity of electricity from RES at 20% target for 2020, whereas their contribution in the end of 2016 was 8424 MW (Ministry of transport is significantly deviated from the desired Environment and Energy, www.ypeka.gr), showing a target, although an increase between the years 2014 and 9% increase, mainly due to the installation of new wind 2016 has been observed. parks and biomass plants. Hydro, wind and solar energy It should be mentioned however, that these targets will cover 98% of the total renewable power production, soon be revised, in the framework of the upcoming whereas no electricity is produced from geothermal national energy roadmap to 2030 and the assessment of energy. the national energy mix. The total contribution (final energy consumption) of 4. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RES for heating and cooling in 2016 was 1120 ktoe (Table 2), decreased by 365 ktoe compared to 2015. The main law that regulates all geothermal activities is L. 3175/2003 “Exploitation of geothermal capacity, Table 2: Contribution (final energy consumption) of district heating and other provisions”, as it has been RES in heating and cooling (ktoe) (source: modified by the L. 3734/2009, L. 3737/2009, etc. The www.ypeka.gr) concession procedures, contracts, terms, royalties, etc. are determined in various Ministerial Decisions and Energy Source 2015 2016 secondary legislation. The exploitation of shallow Geothermal 9.9 10.1 geothermal resources (T<25C) is mentioned in L. (GSHPs excluded) 3175/2006 and is further regulated by the Ministerial Solar 196.4 200.2 Decision Δ9Β,Δ/Φ166/οικ13068/ΓΔΦΠ2488 Biomass 1072.1 910.2 (Government Gazette B΄ 1249/2009). Heat Pumps 206.7 238.6 (geothermal, The geothermal fields are classified as ‘low’ (T=25- aerothermal, 90C) or ‘high’ (T>90 C) temperature fields. hydrothermal) Depending on the level of knowledge on their TOTAL 1485.1 1120.5 qualitative, quantitative and geometric characteristics, they are also characterized as ‘proven’ or ‘probable’. The overall penetration of RES in gross final energy consumption remained relatively stable between 2015 The exploration rights are leased for unexplored areas and 2016 (Ministry of Environment and Energy: Fourth or probable geothermal fields, for a period of 5+2+1 Progress Report on the Promotion and Use of Energy years. The exploitation/management rights are leased from Renewable Sources in Greece, 2018- Table 3). for proven geothermal fields and for 25+10 years. The royalties and minimum fees for each field are set by the competent authority, according to the legislation in force, the exploration findings, the characteristics of 2 Papachristou et al. the field, and the provisions of the submitted technical In January 2018, the Greek Parliament voted the Law - economic study. In the case of low temperature fields, 4513/2018 on “Energy Communities and other an additional fee (10% of royalties) must be paid to the provisions”. In the spirit of the European guidelines, local authority of the area that the project is established. this law introduces the establishment and operation of Energy Communities, which can be active in the fields The necessary permits and authorizations depend on of Renewable Energy Sources, Combined Heat and the size and type of the geothermal project/plant. Power, Rational Energy Use, Energy Efficiency,