Bratislava – Slovakia has significant geothermal energy potential, yet only 2% is currently harnessed. This was emphasized by Ján Ferenčák, a member of the National Council and chairman of the Committee for European Affairs, during a press conference on Monday, where he was joined by a delegation of Members of the European Parliament from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), as reported by TASR.
“Slovakia possesses immense potential for this energy source, but it remains largely untapped. We’re utilizing just 2%, leaving 98% available to potentially replace fossil fuels, gas, or other energy forms,” stated Ferenčák.
He noted that geothermal energy has primarily been exploited for recreational purposes, such as in thermal baths, but it also has heating applications. “In Kežmarok, for instance, a recently drilled well over the past decade now supplies hot water for around 1,000 households,” he explained, adding that similar initiatives are in development across Slovakia.
Ferenčák mentioned that the MEPs will be visiting sites where geothermal energy could be leveraged for household heating and other energy uses, and they aim to discuss support mechanisms for these projects.
The EP delegation also identified potential risks associated with geothermal energy use. The foremost risk, according to Ferenčák, lies in the drilling process, which lacks guarantees regarding the outcome, depth, or availability of geothermal water sources.
“This investment is speculative, which is why geothermal energy utilization in Slovakia is minimal; there’s reluctance to take on risks that aren’t adequately covered. We initiated discussions with the MEPs to explore how such risks might be mitigated at the national level through subsidies or at the European level via venture capital,” the MP explained.
Another issue raised was the availability of geological maps. While Slovakia has developed these, the European Commission and the EP require comprehensive mapping of all EU countries to establish a supportive framework for geothermal energy utilization.
“Geothermal energy holds tremendous potential for Slovakia and all of Europe, making this mission to Slovakia vital for examining the issue. We want to learn from Slovakia’s successes while understanding the barriers it faces in deploying geothermal energy,” remarked Martin Hojsík, MEP and Vice-President of the EP, who leads the five-member delegation from the ITRE committee. (May 26)
“Slovakia has enormous potential in utilizing this type of energy, but on the other hand, we must say that this potential is not utilized. We are using it only at 2%, and 98% is still potential that could replace either fossil fuels, gas, or other types of energy.” Ján Ferenčák
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