High Efficient Cascaded Use of Geothermal Energy in Reality

Abstract

For the first time in the 50 year old history of Hungarian geothermal exploration an unconventional three-pipe district heating network was carried out and put into operation in a small city recently. Already design of the system required innovative approach and during the implementation some other local capabilities were utilized. Combination of pioneer methods in planning and construction resulted as high energetic efficiency as it has only been accustomed related to the use of geothermal energy in horticultural applications. This paper describes how the idea of cascaded use for heating of public buildings located in different parts of the settlement was transferred to reality. It also contains experiences of the first full capacity heating season and the conception for enlarging the geothermal network.

The investor of the project was the local community of the city. As financial contribution to the project 60% of the total cost of implementation was provided by the EU based, so called, Environment and Energy Operative Programme, through which a number of geothermal district heating (and cooling) networks have already been constructed and will, hopefully, be implemented. Anyhow, taking the interest in the support programme for renewable energies by both the public and private sector is great. It has definitely started up the geothermal sector in Hungary.

It is a promising initiation for the next 50 years.