Ecological heat from the Earth's interior
Geothermal in Sieradz is one of the newest and most important renewable energy source investments in the Łódź region. Thanks to utilizing natural geothermal resources, the city is improving its heating system, limiting pollution emissions, and stabilizing heating costs – this is an important step towards clean and modern urban energy.
Why is geothermal in Sieradz important?
Sieradz, like several other Polish cities, is implementing a project designed to use hot water from the Earth's interior to produce heat for the local heating network. The project has special significance because it allows:
- limiting coal combustion and CO₂ emission as well as other pollutants,
- significantly lowering costs of purchasing fossil fuels,
- increasing the city's energy independence,
- improving air quality and residents' quality of life.
Modern geothermal-biomass heating plant
A modern geothermal-biomass heating plant is being built in Sieradz, which in 2024–2025 will be one of the main heat sources for the city. This facility combines the use of geothermal energy with biomass and other energy technologies, increasing its efficiency and operational flexibility.
Main investment elements are:
- Geothermal well doublet, i.e., a system of two boreholes – production (extracting hot water) and injection (to which water returns after releasing heat). The project assumes expansion of the existing GT-1 well and execution of the new GT-2, which enables more efficient resource utilization.
- Heating plant with a total capacity of approx. 33 MW, which will allow satisfying a significant part of the city's heat demand for 8–9 months a year without starting coal boilers.
- Cogeneration module (gas-fired internal combustion engine), which generates both electricity and thermal energy, supporting geothermal during periods of highest demand.
How does the geothermal installation work?
Geothermal heat is obtained from hot groundwater located in rocks at depths of several kilometers below the surface. This water is extracted via a borehole and then transferred through heat exchangers to the municipal heating network. After releasing thermal energy, cooled water returns to the rock mass through a second borehole, thanks to which resources are used in a closed system without excessive burden on the environment.
Benefits for environment and residents
Realization of the geothermal project in Sieradz brings numerous benefits:
- Reduction of CO₂ and other pollutant emissions – reducing hard coal consumption contributes to cleaner air.
- Financial savings – limiting fossil fuel purchase costs and CO₂ emissions gives real savings for the city and its energy enterprise.
- Heat price stability – by using renewable resources, the city is less exposed to fluctuations in fossil raw material prices.
- Support for local economy – the investment creates jobs and attracts modern technologies to the region.
Basic information about Sieradz Geothermal
Summary
The geothermal project in Sieradz is an example of a city consistently switching to renewable energy sources. Through investment in geothermal, biomass, and modern heating technologies, Sieradz not only improves air quality but also supports local economy development and builds a safer, more stable energy system for its residents.