GEOTHERMICA HELLAS LTD has been active since 1996 in Xanthi Prefecture and is based in Neo Erasmio, near the Nestos River Delta. The company's main activities focus on the primary and secondary agricultural sector.
The use of geothermal energy is a key tool conferring to the company comparative advantages.Today the company boasts considerable experience and know-how in the exploitation and management of low-enthalpy geothermal fluids. It has geothermal boreholes with fluids at 60°C, enabling the production of asparagus out of season, whereas during the summer months the company develops geothermal drying and dehydration of agricultural goods activities, mostly of tomatoes. The end-products are sold under the AGRECO FARM trade name.
At Neo Erasmio/ Xanthi,
Geothermica Hellas Ltd has created a model drying plant for the production of dried tomatoes. The tomatoes are carefully selected from stringently quality-controlled fruit grown on the fertile plains around the Nestos River Delta, and are dried at moderate temperatures using geothermal energy. Before drying, each tomato undergoes an elaborate process of pre-washing, washing, sorting and cutting. The drying process is carried out in tunnel ovens with a total fresh fruit capacity of 10,000 kg. The hot air, which is not recycled, is introduced into the ovens in a continuous flow with a renewal rate of 700 times per hour. The air is heated to 55-58°C by geothermal fluids (from a borehole 300 metres deep) circulating in tube-type heat exchangers. The tomatoes are batch-dried, not belt-dried, with the raw fruit loaded on stainless steel grill trays.
Asparagus
THE KING OF ALL VEGETABLES
HEALTHY AND TASTY DELIGHT WITH ONLY A FEW CALORIES
The consumption of asparagus is recommended to all those engaging in mental labour as it provides the body with many vitamins and minerals. Fresh asparagus contains asparagine, a substance which "cleans" the blood and the kidneys and is useful to those suffering from anaemia and heart problems.
It is rich in folic acid and helps in the division of cells during growth, in the tissue regeneration process, in the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow as well as in the prevention of cervical cancer. Asparagus contains extraordinary antioxidants and anticarcinogens with anti-inflammatory and antimycotic agents. It constitutes an excellent diuretic and has a beneficial effect on the kidney, liver and intestine. Asparagus, with its delicate taste and aroma, is considered by gourmets as a symbol of culinary refinement. It does not contain fat and cholesterol and is low in calories.
Two magnificent products differentiated on the ground of Geothermal Energy
in NEO ERASMIO, XANTHI, GREECE.
Geographically, the area of Neo Erasmio, Xanthi, is located along the eastern banks of the Nestos river mouth and belongs to the sedimentary area of the Prinos – W. Nestos basin, which in its turn has developed in the geotectonic zone of the Rodopi land mass.
The geothermal field expands around the Erasmio village, reaching Avato in the north, Maggana in the east, the Nestos River in the west and the coastal zone in the south. The whole region, covering an area of 40 km2, has been subject of geological, stratigraphic and tectonic investigations, which also covered the area's features.
The located geothermal deposit which expands around Neo Erasmio, Xanthi, constitutes a typical example of a low-enthalpy geothermal field where the stratified aquifers are fed by a system of active faults in the bedrock of the Rodopi zone. Based on extensive geothermal investigation, it was established that the main geothermal anomaly expands on an area of 15-20 km2, with geothermal gradient reaching 25°/100 m and a relevant high heat flow as well as quality and chemical composition of the geothermal fluids being such that they lend special features and a special typology to the particular Geothermal Deposit "Geothermal Reservoir". Based on the systematic temperature measurements and production tests of the five active boreholes, the confirmed and immediately available for use thermal energy capacity exceeds 15 MWth.
The geothermal fluids that have temperatures reaching 40-65 °C are localised at easy accessible depths (200-350 m). Their quality is excellent, a fact that renders their management easy and low-priced in terms of pumping and transfer. Common stretches of land are available for allotment in the area for the installation of processing plants as well as greenhouses.
