Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Czech Republic
Geothermal energy has been little used, and then only directly (in spas and swimming pools), for over a century. However, with a view to the resource being incorporated within the national energy policy (to 2020), it has now received detailed study.

The Czech Republic's considerable potential has been categorised into high-temperature, hot dry rock (HDR) and low-temperature resources. There is thought to be high-temperature potential for 10 MWe of electrical generation and 25 MWt of heat production; a total HDR potential of 3 388 MWt, based on boreholes in 847 areas, each producing 4 MWt; and a low-temperature potential that has been estimated at 8 750 MWt (dry rock) and 2 390 MWt (groundwater).

More than 10 000 small (20 kW) geothermal heat pumps are installed throughout the country, providing some 200 MWt of heat energy in residential buildings, hotels, small commercial buildings and swimming pools. A larger (1 MWt) heat pump is providing warm water for the Prokop ore mine. Research is being undertaken for the further installation of heat pumps for district heating, recreational and industrial uses, and of an electrical power plant.