Author(s):
1. Dragana Vukadinović, Monolith Innovation Group , Serbia

Abstract:
One of the ways to promote economic development and reduce energy dependence of Serbia is the use of geothermal energy and geothermal sources. Geothermal energy has many advantages against traditional energy sources based on fossil fuels. The biggest advantage of geothermal energy is that it is clean and safe energy source for the environment. It also reduces the use of fossil fuels, and thus reduces emissions. Another advantage is the quantity of power reserves that are available to us. Reserves of geothermal energy are practically inexhaustible. Out of these reasons, the development of geothermal resources and geothermal technologies should become the primary interest of the country. The use of geothermal energy and its resources in Serbia is very small compared to the geothermal potential. In Serbia, only geothermal energy is used from geothermal and mineral water, mainly in the traditional way, mostly for the balneology and sports and recreational purposes. The use of geothermal energy for heating and other energy production is in an early stage and is very modest compared to the potential of geothermal resources. With relatively small investments, compared to investments in other energy sources (oil, gas, coal), whose exploitation and utilization creates huge hidden costs, geothermal energy can repay the initial investment in a relatively short period of time. In Serbia, as everywhere in the world, a hydro-geothermal potential is mostly used. Numerous hot springs have always been used as spa resorts, and this tradition has been preserved to this day. However, in the thermal spas, no attention is paid to energy efficiency and large amounts of hot water are discharged as useless, even from them using for the heat pump which can extract enough energy for space heating or pool. At the same time the space is heated by coal, oil or electricity. If we could do rationalization of the used heat from the hot springs spas, then the same sources of energy could supply and other facilities such as greenhouses, residential space heating, industrial production, etc. In Europe, they set very high goals regarding the use of renewable energy and reduction of emissions. Geothermal energy is the most appropriate for achieving those goals, and therefore the only one of all renewable energy in several European countries entered into a legal obligation to use it for heating new buildings. By joining the European Union, Serbia is also expected to adhere to obligations regarding the use of renewable energy and reduced emissions. The aim of this paper is to identify the potential of Serbia for the use of geothermal energy and potential applications of geothermal energy as an engine of economic development through energy saving activities at all levels - from the households, industry and agriculture, to the geothermal power plants building.

Key words:
economic development, geothermal energy, hydro-geothermal potential

Thematic field:
Human resources, intellectual capital

Date of abstract submission:
04.02.2014.

Conference:
REDETE 2014 - Researching Economic Development and Entrepreneurship in Transition Economies

Applied paper from author