Geothermal District Heating Air Conditioning Plant and Distribution System in Vicenza

Abstract

A large low enthalpy geothermal water reservoir was discovered at about 2,000 m deep in permeable calcareous rocks by a Agip society oil exploration. A geothermal well was drilled by joint-venture in an area suited for the implementation of a district heating plant. The well produces 100 m water with low contents of salts at a temperature of 67 The project, undertaken by the Aziende Industriali Municipalizzate of Vicenza, a municipality owned company, foresees the exploitation of this hot resource by means of a complex and multifunctional energy system, including a district heating plant equipped with geothermal water storage tanks. The district heating plant will be remotely controlled from an existing multifunctional control station. Commercial and residential buildings with 95 substations are connected to the system. Efficiency system is about 1.85, fossil fuel saving (in case of gas working heat pump engines) is expected 1 equivalent to 60% of existing system total consumptions. These values are referred to erogation conditions foreseen in the project.