Scholarly record

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

M. Elizbarashvili, K. Lataria, O. Vardigoreli, N. Naskidashvili, R. Maisuradze

Abstract

As traditional organic fuel resources are being depleted in the modern world, energy crisis and environmental situation aggravate and the attention of the mankind is increasingly drawn towards untraditional, renewable sources of energy and opportunities of their efficient use. Georgia has significant geothermal resources concentrated in numerous thermal springs and basins. There are two main basins of thermal waters in Georgia. The water in the Kolkheti basin is distinguished for its low mineralization, it is overheated (103-1050) and characterized with high static pressure (13-17 atm). In eastern Georgia, the thermal waters are heated up to 650, have high compositions of sulphur and methane. The first group of waters can be used for the production of electricity, supply of hot water and heating whereas the second group of waters in balneology and for heating. It is also worth noting that the majority of wells existing in Georgia territory are open and water flows without being used. On the other hand, the population in the villages uses primarily organic fuel for heating and cooking purposes, which results in the contamination of the environment by various exhaust gases, deterioration of living conditions, depletion of forest cover and all this eventually leads to the increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and climate change. In this Article we consider all problems and perspectives of usage of geothermal resources in Georgia.

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