Geothermal energy-convenient heat source for renewal and new development of protected crop cultivation in Macedonia

Economy transition of Macedonia underlined the weak points of protected crop cultivation sector. Beside the others, high energy costs, decreased competitiveness of it to the import and stopped the development. By analysis of the composition of the energy costs, available, and applied heating technologies and heat sources on disposal, a trial is made to recommend a sustainable solution, which can enable to make the production more competitive and to initiate a new process of development. Geothermal energy has already been identified as optimal choice. Country is rich with this energy source, spread in the regions with long tradition of protected cultivation. Available technologies for geothermal heating of greenhouses enable to reach needed low price of used heat and prevent of negative environmental impacts, which are characteristic for the fossil fuels used for the same purpose, and increase employment in poor rural areas of the country.