Renewable heat in the context of Polish geothermal heating plants
Stargard Geothermal is one of the most important sources of renewable thermal energy in Poland. This installation – alongside systems in Bańska Niżna, Uniejów, or Poddębice – shows how geothermal can realistically support municipal district heating systems and reduce pollutant emissions. Against the background of Polish geothermal heating plants, Stargard stands out both in scale of production and innovative method of integration with the municipal heating network.
Geothermal in Poland – brief context
Several installations using geothermal energy in district heating systems operate in Poland, including:
- Podhalańska Geothermal (Bańska Niżna) – largest and oldest, with nearly 95 MW capacity and water temperatures 82–86 °C.
- Pyrzyce Geothermal – system with temp. approx. 62 °C and ~6 MW capacity.
- Uniejów Geothermal – approx. 68 °C and 3.2 MW capacity.
- Poddębice Geothermal – approx. 68 °C and 10 MW.
- Toruń Geothermal – relatively new installation with ~18.5 MW capacity.
Against this background, Stargard Geothermal occupies an honorable place as one of the largest installations in the country, the second geothermal source after Podhale in terms of heat production.
What is Geotermia Stargard?
Geotermia Stargard is an installation utilizing hot groundwater lying at a depth of about 2 670 m, with a temperature reaching almost 90 °C. This source exists in Lower Jurassic layers and has the potential to satisfy a significant part of the city's thermal needs.
Since the restoration of operations in 2012 by the company G-TERM ENERGY Sp. z o.o., the installation is connected to the city's heating system and delivers ecological heat to Stargard residents.
Scale of operation and significance in Stargard
- Share in network: In 2025 geothermal delivers over 62% of heat for Stargard residents. For comparison, many newly arising installations in the country initially aim for the 15-30% ceiling.
- Brine extracted in Stargard reaches a temperature of approx. 90°C, placing it among the hottest sources in the Polish Lowlands (competing with Geotermia Podhale located in the Podhale trough, where temperatures are also among the highest in the country). Current system capacity is approx. 40 MW, however planned expansion aims to increase its capacity to over 50 MW.
This makes Stargard one of the most advanced Polish cities in terms of utilizing geothermal in district heating, which has a direct impact on lowering fossil fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Benefits for Stargard and environment
Thanks to geothermal the city records:
- reduction of CO₂ and other pollutant emissions thanks to lower fossil fuel use, reducing smog, and air quality in the city distinctly improves, which translates directly to residents' health.
- greater energy independence of the local heating network.
Cooperation with EU funds and environmental programs favors further installation development, covering new wells and technologies.
Geothermal in Poland – how does Stargard compare to other cities?
Data from reports and geothermal analyses in Poland. BOŚ Bank
Geotermia Stargard is a model example of a modern and effective geothermal district heating installation in Poland. Thanks to high water temperatures, innovative technical solutions, and strategic integration with the municipal system – this installation not only delivers ecological heat to residents but also constitutes an important reference point for other geothermal projects in the country. Its development fits into the broader trend of energy transformation aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy sources in Polish district heating.