| Summary: | The project’s overall objective is to promote the utilization of geothermal energy and resources as areliable renewable energy resource through demonstration actions in three cities involved in theproject as CONCERTO Areas. Geothermal energy is the least known and least expanded RES inEurope, though its relevance and importance should deserve much more attention. By using thepractically unlimited internal heat of earth, geothermal energy has one of the highestpotential of all RES. When compared with other RES – like solar or wind – its main advantage isthe practically constant energy and heat output it can provide. Besides the well known geothermalregions like Iceland or the region of Tuscany (Larderello) in Italy, Central-Eastern Europeancountries have exceptional geothermal resources. These resources are either unexploited due tothe lack of technological know-how or their use is carried out in an unsustainable way; geothermaldistrict heating projects lack the energy efficiency component and the used thermal water isgenerally not re-injected but instead released to surface waters. In line with the project’s core objectives, the second year of implementation has also brought abouttangible results keeping the planned work on track. After having finished the retrofitting of themulti-storey buildings at the Galanta demo site, focus has been shifted towards the additionalbuildings included in the local CONCERTO area such as the elementary school. Replacement ofwindows has been decided to be carried out in two-stages in order to maintain the full operationalcapability of the school. The first set of windows was replaced during 2011, while the second batchis planned to be installed before the end of 2012. On the technological research side, SOFTECH has delivered their concept regarding the retrofittingof historical buildings, which is going to be applied on the homes and public buildings in thehistoric town centre of Montieri. The University of Szeged has also progressed with the transboundarygeothermal energy ...
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