Economic feasibility of intermediate and deep geothermal energy for increasing the sustainability of the heating demand in construction and renovation projects

Geothermal energy is a local and sustainable energy source. There are many benefits to using a geothermal system to heat (and cool) rooms:

  • It is a source of energy where virtually no CO2 emissions or emissions of other substances are released.
  • Geothermal heat is available locally, depending on external factors
  • It is an underground energy source that we know is and will remain in supply. Once a system such as this is installed, the energy costs remain stable and predictable for a long time.

Despite all of the benefits it has to offer, there still appear to be many barriers preventing the widespread application of (deep) geothermal systems in the region. With the cross-border Interreg project "GEOHEAT-APP", VITO, Grontmij and TNO are hoping to be able to verify the feasibility of this energy source in concrete terms in the Flanders-Netherlands border region. We will do this using five case studies in the provinces of Antwerp, Belgian and Dutch Limburg and North Brabant.

What does the project entail?

  • Studying the potential of specific aquifers (>250 m deep) and fault zones. The potential will be fully determined through the geological substrate, which requires cross-border research.
  • Economic feasibility: We achieve this by means of concrete building projects. These elaborate studies must be an additional incentive to provide heating by means of geothermal energy for future new-build or renovation projects in the border-region. We are drawing up a decision-making process that can be used for the development of other projects in the border region.

 

  • Project owner: VITO NV
  • Project partners: TNO, Grontmij NV
  • Duration: 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2014
  • Co-financing:

Diepe geothermie: quickscan

Eerste inschatting van geothermisch potentieel van breuken en breukzones

Beschrijving Quickscan INTERREG geothermie