Preparations are underway for an ambitious geothermal drilling project that will support heating and cooling at the future Central Communication Port (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny / CPK) Airport in Poland.
The Mineral Resources and Energy Economy Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences has been commissioned to produce the full documentation needed for a geothermal exploration and appraisal well at the planned airport site in Nowy Oryszew.
According to the project outline, CPK intends to drill to a depth of around 1,600 metres. This well would form the foundation of a modern, fifth-generation low-temperature heating and cooling network designed to cut energy consumption and reduce the environmental footprint of the airport. Once extracted and cooled, the thermal waters could also serve wider community and utility needs within the airport complex, adding long-term value to the surrounding area.
The Institute’s responsibilities include developing a concept for the layout of facilities linked to the geothermal heating plant, drawing up a comprehensive geological works plan, and producing a cost estimate for the drilling process. There is also an option to extend the documentation to cover future wells if initial results prove promising. Should the thermal water parameters meet expectations, this study will pave the way for further investment and full integration of geothermal energy into the airport’s infrastructure strategy.
The CPK project itself is a major national undertaking. Envisioned as a new central airport supported by a high-speed rail network, it will sit strategically between Warsaw and Łódź. In its first stage, CPK is planned to process up to 34 million passengers a year. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the overall investment estimated at PLN 131.7 billion, or roughly USD 36 billion.
Importantly, geothermal wells of similar depth have already been drilled successfully in nearby Mszczonów and Sochaczew, offering encouraging precedents for the CPK venture. This innovative approach to clean energy signals a significant step in Poland’s push towards more sustainable large-scale infrastructure.