Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Geothermal Potential in Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia

The northern province of Vojvodina in the Republic of Serbia has significant but underutilized geothermal resources. This study compiles a dataset of 78 hydrothermal boreholes, utilizing geospatial interpolation, principal component analysis (PCA) and robust principal component analysis to characterize multivariate patterns among geothermal resources and support preliminary site prioritization. Six borehole attributes—depth, temperature, flow rate, thermal power, mineralization, and salinity—were analyzed using collected data. The first two principal components account for 80% of the total variance: PC1 is influenced by temperature, depth, and thermal power, while PC2 reflects flow rate, mineralization, and salinity. Robust PCA based on minimum covariance determinant (MCD) helps reduce the effects of outliers, allowing for a more accurate classification of boreholes. Summary statistics indicate a mean depth of about 897 m, a mean temperature of approximately 44 °C, a mean flow rate of 8.8 dm3/s, and a mean thermal power of 1.0 MWt, with only 11 boreholes currently operational. Several boreholes exhibit elevated temperatures, flow rates, or thermal power, making them potential candidates for further evaluation for direct-use geothermal applications. These applications could include district heating, greenhouse heating, agriculture, and balneology. However, detailed geological, engineering, and economic assessments are necessary to determine the suitability for development. This framework serves as a reproducible tool for prioritizing sustainable geothermal resource exploitation in Serbia.