The 7 stages of your project
You are a family, a school, a nursing home, a lawyers' office, an industrial business etc. You want to get started on the great geothermal energy adventure!
How should I select my source of energy? What geothermal solution should I adopt? Depending on what criteria? To whom can I entrust this work? When should the heating engineer start work? What type of probes should I install?
Look at the seven stages of your project with us. And don't forget that we are always here beside you to assist you with this great adventure.
1Prioritise a source of renewable energy
Numerous systems exist to heat or provide air conditioning for a building but some of these solutions are bad for the environment.
By choosing geothermal energy, you are selecting a mode of energy production which falls under sustainable development.
With this first stage and by choosing geothermal energy, you are opting for security:
Security of supply : geothermal energy is an exceptional supply source since the subsoil has an inexhaustible quantity of calories to offer to humans.
Environmental security :geothermal energy is a clean energy, in particular because it does not produce CO² and fine particles.
In addition, risks linked to extraction, processing and transport, which exist for other sources of energy such as hydrocarbons, do not exist for geothermal energy.
Climate security : geothermal energy does not depend on climatic conditions. The constant temperatures of the subsoil guarantee uniform production.
It is therefore pointless to provide any, possibly polluting, ancillary systems in order to compensate for any lack in performance.
2Select your geothermal solution
Two techniques can be implemented to capture the subsoil energy:
- The open geothermal system which consists of pumping the underground water into a water table to recover the heat.
- The closed geothermal system which recovers the heat underground through probes buried deep into the ground.
A third technique, sometimes called a horizontal geothermal system, allows the underground heat to be recovered through geo-solar collectors arranged horizontally and at a shallow depth in the ground.
This third technique, however, does not come under geothermal energy in the strict meaning of the term. These three techniques can be considered for new buildings or renovations.
Are you looking for better output? Choose an open or closed loop system.
These systems offer the best performance factors (PF), thus guaranteeing greater cost-effectiveness from the installation.
Does your environment impose constraints? Give priority to a closed loop system which is not dependent on the presence of a water table and can also be installed in town.
3Carry out a geological survey
The nature of the subsoil varies from one region to another but also from one depth to another. Some strata are better than others. In terms of watts per linear metre, the production of calories can double.
If you choose a closed loop system, a rigorous geological survey will allow the length of the probes and the depth to which they must be placed to be defined precisely in order to benefit fully from your installation.
GEO-GREEN has been carrying out geological or hydrological surveys for more than 20 years. Take advantage of this expertise to optimise your installation.
4Calculate the size of the heating installation
Sizing of the heating installation is crucial in order to take full advantage of all the benefits of geothermal energy. The surface area of the building and the desired degree of comfort will enable the optimum size of the installation to be determined and the selection of the most suitable heat pump (HP).
Your heating engineer, your architect or a specialist firm of consultants can prove to be very useful allies to avoid a loss of comfort (if the installation is undersized and does not produce the expected heat or cooling) or a loss in cost-effectiveness (if the installation is oversized and leads to useless costs).
GEO-GREEN can assist you during this stage with the help of specialists in sizing installations. Take advantage of professional advice in order to get the best from your installation.
5Create the design for the geothermal system
The design phase ensures a perfect match between the nature of the subsoil and the heating needs which have been previously established.
During this phase, the number of probes required, as well as their length, are calculated, taking into account the nature of the subsoil. The available space is also taken into account in order to favour either a vertical or sloping placement of the probes. Sloping placement offers a number of advantages, amongst which is an undeniable space saving.
GEO-GREEN has received the innovation prize for the sloping placement of stainless steel coaxial probes. Take advantage of this exclusivity in order to get more from your installation.
6Place the probes
Your installation probes are buried in the ground by drilling or vibro-sinking. The machines used for burying them are small so as to reduce the impact in gardens and to be able to work more easily in confined spaces.
Does your installation have stainless steel coaxial probes? Thanks to a higher conductivity of the metal, the length of the probes can be reduced by 10 to 15% without loss of output.
GEO-GREEN has cutting edge material so as to install your probes with the least impact on the environment. The material is also suitable for all surfaces and can be used in all types of spaces.
7Connect the installation
During this last stage, all the probes are connected to a collector, itself connected to the heat pump (HP). Amongst other things, this collector has the role of regulating the flow calculated by a set of valves and flow meters.
From the start, the flow and temperature of the water can be followed accurately.
GEO-GREEN stays with you throughout your project. The choice of the best materials and the machines most suited to your situation are the guarantee of a tailor-made and lasting solution.