HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING THE ROLE OF GEOTHERMAL DRILLING IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The popularity of alternative sources of clean energy – such as solar, wind and hydroelectric – are increasing across the nation, yet it is geothermal energy that presents the most promising solution in working towards a sustainable future. With the UK government requiring all greenhouse gas
emissions to be deemed Net Zero by 2050, more businesses than ever are taking proactive approaches to incorporate sustainability into their everyday operations wherever possible and, as such, it is of
no surprise to see geothermal drilling emerge as one of the most popular solutions in achieving this. John Rodgman, managing director of Borehole Solutions, shares his insight into the practice of geothermal drilling and the role it plays in working towards a sustainable future
D
erived from the Greek for geo (earth) and thermos (heat), geothermal energy utilises
the heat stored from within the crust of the earth’s surface to provide clean energy on a consistent, year-round, basis – something that alternative clean energy solutions fall short on. With heating making up approximately 50% of the UK’s total energy consumption, geothermal energy looks to play a vital role in the attainment of carbon neutrality. In Iceland, for example, as much as 90% of its heating usage is supplied solely from geothermal energy sources.
GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS IN GEOTHERMAL DRILLING Geothermal energy, within a residential setting, is primarily used for heat production, achieved through the use of ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) or direct heat exchange technology. In larger, and more urban environments, it is more commonly utilised for power production in the form of steam turbines. Through the installation
of a series of pipes within a vertically-based borehole, or horizontal pits, GSHPs circulate fluid through these pipes, absorbing the natural heat of the earth. This is then passed through a heat exchanger, enabling the GSHP to convert the energy into a more practical, and useful form. While the installation of GSHPs share many
similar aspects to that of geothermal drilling, what does differentiate the two processes is the sheer scale of the project. Whereas ground-source heat pumps operate within a shallow depth of up to 250ml, geothermal drilling takes this concept one step further due to its focus on corporate and national applications, solely relying on the heat contained within the earth’s core, at a depth far exceeding what GSHPs can operate within.
HELPING TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
According to the Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs offer a 400% more efficient alternative to your conventional gas boiler in terms of overall energy usage, whilst also
“With energy bills as high as they currently are, using geothermal energy for your heating as opposed to non-renewable sources can help to mitigate some of the largest financial drains you would typically face”
simultaneously producing 70% lower carbon dioxide emissions. Unlike your traditional fossil fuel-powered systems, geothermal reservoirs within the earth are naturally replenished. Assuming these are managed correctly, the clean energy extracted from the earth can be balanced with the rate in which the heat of the rock renews – potentially lasting billions of years without any environmental impact.
Geothermal energy utilises the heat stored from within the crust of the earth’s surface to provide clean energy
www.essmag.co.uk
CAN GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS SAVE YOU MONEY? With energy bills as high as they currently are, using geothermal energy for your heating as opposed to alternative non-renewable sources can help to mitigate some of the largest financial drains you would typically face. While
the cost of installing a GSHP can range between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on the scale of the project and complexity in which it is carried out, the majority of this can be avoided through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payment scheme offered by the government to producers of ‘clean heat’. How much you can save varies from property to property, but the payments will regardless be far from insignificant. In fact, it often makes the installation of a GSHP more preferable than your standard heating option, with many households saving as much as 70% off their annual energy bills.
Borehole Solutions
www.boreholesolutions.co.uk
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2023 19
According to the Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs offer a 400% more efficient alternative to your conventional gas boiler
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