Geothermal Energy In Uniejów - Over 20 Years of Contribution To The Development of The City and 10 Years of The First Thermal Spa In Poland

In 1978, the Uniejów IGH-1 borehole was drilled in the Uniejów commune. In 1984, the documentation for this well was approved by the Polish Geological Institute. In the years 1988-1990, design works were carried out on geological, hydrogeological, drilling and heating issues, carried out by the Geothermal Department of the Institute of Energy Raw Materials at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. As part of these works, a geological survey project was carried out, which involved the drilling of three boreholes (Uniejów AGH-1, Uniejów AGH-2, Uniejów AGH-3) to identify geothermal resources and at the same time constituting the basis for the construction of a geothermal installation in Uniejów based on two geothermal doublets. In the years 1990-1991, the Uniejów PIG / AGH-1 and Uniejów PIG / AGH-2 wells were drilled. The PIG / AGH-1 and PIG / AGH-2 boreholes were characterized by significant flow rates, of the order of 90 m3 / h in the conditions of self-production at a pressure of approx. 3 bar and a temperature of approx. 70 ° C. In addition, these waters, according to the opinion of specialists, have healing properties. In 1997, the Uniejów City Council made a decision about the possibility of making the city warm with the use of geothermal waters. In 1998, the "Study of the profitability of using geothermal waters in Uniejów for heating, balneological and recreational purposes" was prepared by the Department of Energy Raw Materials - Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. In March 1999, Aneta Sapińska has developed a "Preliminary concept for the use of thermal waters in Uniejów". A study commissioned by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Łódź resulted in the establishment of the limited liability company "Geotermia Uniejów" on July 12, 1999. From the very beginning, the entity undertook intensive activities aimed at making the city warm. It deals with the production and distribution of thermal energy (central heating and domestic hot water) obtained from geothermal water, as well as the production of water for recreation and promotion of the city. Since the establishment of the company can be dated the successful development of Uniejów after the difficult period of the 1990s. For over 20 years, new tourist and recreational facilities and a health resort have been built in Uniejów. Geothermal cosmetics are produced, people have jobs that were hard to come by before. The works of the 21st century luxury are created with such amenities as thermal water in the third tap in new apartments, for private baths. It is planned to generate electricity from thermal waters and further development of the health resort. The paper presents the history, current state and plans resulting from the symbiosis of the city and local geothermal water resources.