Heating Three Building Complexes in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with Geothermal Energy -- Design Options and Economics
- Key words
- Direct Use; USA; Nebraska; Scottsbluff; District Heating System; Economics; Reinjection; Flow Rates
- Location
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1982
- Session
- Direct use; Space heating/cooling; Economics; Feasibility st
- Language
- English
Abstract
The topic of this paper is the feasibility of heating three building complexes with geothermal energy. The complexes are a college, a hospital, and the high schools of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The resources is assume to be 180°F water from aquifers 4700 to 5200 ft below the surface; the static water level is expected to be about 2000 ft below the surface. Reinjection will be necessary. We discuss some of the design problems as wells s the economics of utilizing this resource. Various scenarios for heating the complexes are explored. The payback periods in terms of current energy prices range from 9 to 32 years. Using DOE projected fuel prices the payback periods range from 6 to 11 years. The most cost effective project would be to heat the College and part of the Hospital with geothermal energy.
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