Geothermal Energy Is Key to a Sustainable Future of the Country

Hungary has long been among the top five countries in Europe in the utilization of geothermal energy, highlighted Minister of Energy Csaba Lantos at a conference on “Sustainable Thermal Water Management in Budapest.” With the measures of the National Geothermal Energy Utilization Concept adopted last year, the domestic use of geothermal energy could double by 2030.

The Ministry has made more than HUF 11 billion (EUR 27.5 million) available in previous calls for proposals to mitigate the financial risks of drilling activities and modernize existing thermal wells.

In the recently announced Jedlik Ányos Energy Program, nearly seven times as much funding will be available for the increased use of geothermal energy in three calls for proposals, making geothermal energy a key driver of the domestic green economy,

said the Minister.

László Nagy, President of the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities, said that geothermal energy, for which Hungary has a unique potential, is a locally available, predictable and environmentally friendly energy source.

The use of geothermal heat has the potential to replace up to one billion cubic meters of gas over a ten-year period.

This is why the licensing reform initiated by the Authority was crucial, allowing geothermal energy to take off nationwide in a short time.

Bence Gonda, Vice President for Strategy, explained in his presentation that the Authority’s research program on the sustainable use of the thermal karst beneath Budapest was designed to ensure that the advance of thermal water for energy purposes did not pose a risk.

At the conference, experts from the Authority’s Geology Department presented in detail the geothermal research program for the Hungarian capital, that will support the work of the water management agencies and the Geothermal Energy Board (GEB) and ensure sustainable use of thermal water in Budapest.

Geothermal Energy Could Replace Gas by 2030