Effectiveness of innovative processes on the example of geothermal water deironing technology

The subject of the effectiveness of innovative processes and identifying its determinants and measurement is crucial for both researchers and practitioners. Innovative processes, due to the high amount of resources involved and the level of risk, should be prepared adequately from the perspective of the procedure of innovative activities and monitoring their effects. The effectiveness category includes not only economic, but also non-economic values. The aim of the article is to present the problem of measuring the effectiveness of innovative processes on the example of geothermal water deironing technology. A technology presented in this study is the first technology adapted to geothermal water treatment for balneological purposes. For the time being, high market’s interest in technologies connected with balneology has been observed. There are many water deironing technologies available on the market. However, only a few of them are effective in warm water deironing. Presented technology utilizes the same processes, which are used in the underground water treatment. However, applied innovations result in higher effectiveness of the technology as well as a reduction of heat loses brought during the process of deironing. Based on the case study method, the results of the analysis of effectiveness of the implementation process of the discussed technology are presented in the article. It was concluded that a precise evaluation of the effectiveness of the implementation of innovative processes is methodologically difficult. This is confirmed by the literature pieces and the case study cited by the authors. The analysis of effectiveness of the technology implementation process showed effectiveness not only in the economic area, but also in the environmental and social areas.