Geothermal Park Prešov – Ľubotice
Ľubotice, Prešov District, Prešov Region, Slovakia.
Project overview
PW Energy is developing a geothermal energy center in the Prešov district to produce renewable baseload electricity and heat and make the residual heat available for local uses. The first phase is designed around a geothermal power plant with an expected installed electrical capacity of approximately 8.5 MWe, using geothermal wells and an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generation unit.
The planned development includes an exploratory well to approximately 3,500–4,000 meters to verify reservoir conditions and deep geological structures, followed by production drilling of 5 more wells for the first project phase (1 phase = 3 doublets). The project has obtained a positive final decision in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and the zoning plan was approved by the municipality of Ľubotice, explicitly incorporating zones for the cascading use of geothermal heat into its territorial development. The project is designed to apply cascading energy use: electricity is generated from the higher-temperature geothermal resource, while direct and/or residual heat supports district heating (DHS) and other local energy applications.
Potential heat uses include:
- District-heating network supply
- Heating for households and public buildings
- Industrial and commercial processes
- Greenhouse heating and food-production processes
- Public pools, wastewater treatment and other municipal applications
- Cooling using absorption chillers
The project is planned within the municipality of Ľubotice, close to the third largest Slovak city, regional city of Prešov in eastern Slovakia. It is being developed to access deep geothermal resources and to supply renewable electricity, heating, cooling and subsequently residual geothermal heat to the wider Prešov area.
Strategic transport connectivity: The Geothermal Park Prešov–Ľubotice is located along the planned Via Carpatia corridor, strengthening its relevance as a future clean-energy and industrial-development location. Access to the site is envisaged through a connection to the planned south-east bypass of Prešov, which will improve logistics for construction, operations and prospective industrial heat users. Cooperation on this access connection forms part of the Memorandum of Understanding between PW Energy and the Prešov Self-Governing Region.
Project Developing Company
PW Energy is a Slovak renewable-energy developer specializing in geothermal projects. The company’s principal objective is to develop geothermal electricity generation and to maximize the cascade use of residual heat for district heating, greenhouses, public pools, wastewater treatment, industrial facilities and food-processing applications. PW Energy is developing geothermal projects in the Prešov and Žiar nad Hronom districts. In the Žiar nad Hronom region, the development is undertaken through PW geoenergy, a joint venture involving PW Energy and Stredoslovenská energetika Holding.
Background of the project
Slovakia has substantial but still underused geothermal potential, particularly in sedimentary basins and areas with favorable deep hydrogeological conditions. PW Energy focuses on converting this potential into dispatchable renewable electricity and useful heat, helping diversify local energy supply beyond conventional fossil-fuel sources.
PW Energy presented the Prešov geothermal project for environmental assessment and has developed cooperation with the Prešov Self-Governing Region. The project has been presented as a potential first geothermal power project in Slovakia, combining electricity generation with downstream heat use.
The indicative investment requirement for the first phase is at approximately EUR 95 million.
Impact and Strategic importance
The project can contribute to a more resilient, low-carbon energy system in the Prešov region by using a domestic, renewable energy resource that is available continuously rather than depending on weather conditions. Its combined electricity-and-heat concept also supports higher overall resource efficiency than electricity-only generation.
Key expected impacts include:
- Renewable baseload electricity: A planned capacity of about 8.5 MWe has been associated with electricity supply equivalent to roughly 20,000 households.
- Decarbonized heat: Residual geothermal heat could potentially supply heating for more than 6,000 households, subject to the final heat-network concept and offtake arrangements.
- Energy security: The project supports use of an indigenous Slovak energy resource and reduces exposure to imported-fuel price volatility.
- Local economic value: Drilling, construction, operation and heat-network development can create regional investment, technical employment and opportunities for local industry and services.
- Replicable development model: The project demonstrates how deep geothermal resources can provide integrated renewable power and heat for Slovak cities and industrial areas.
- Integrated infrastructure and investment readiness: The planned connection to the south-east bypass of Prešov, in the Via Carpatia corridor area, is intended to provide direct site accessibility and support the development of the Geothermal Park as a clean industrial and energy hub.
