Environment and use of ground geothermal energy in

Estonia

Argo Jõeleht

0 20 40 60 80 100 km

BA

LTIC

SEA

G ULF O F FINLAND

11 .21 5 .011 .7

8 .1

9 .1

9 .29 .5

9 .7

8 .9

1 0 .9

11 .71 3 .1

11 .2

1 2 .7

7 .9

1 0 .71 0 .5

9 .1

11 .3

11 .0

1 0 .0 1 0 .0

11 .5

1 0 .6

Te m p e ra tu re a t 2 5 0 m d ep th

1 0 .6

9 .9

11 .0

9

10

11

11

111 3

141 2

1 0

9

1 3 .5 C a lc u la te d te m p e ra tu re , °C

L E G E N D

1 4 .3 M e a su re d te m p e ra tu re , ° C

Estimated number of installations presently• All heat pump systems

>30,000

• Ground source heat pumps 6500 – 8000

• Borehole-based systems 100 – 200

0

200

-200

-400

-600

North South

Example of closed loop system

• North Estonia near Tallinn

• Built in 1994• Two wells (150 m and

144 m)• One for geothermal

purpose, the other one for groundwater

Monitored temperatureson heating seasons 14 – 17

Example of open loop system

• Oisu village, Central Estonia

• Built in late 1990s

• 2 wells (à 10 m)

• Distance between wells 18 m

• HP power 22 kW (+18 kW since 2009)

Open system in central Estonia

co-effect of two heat pumps

Summary• Geothermal applications are mostly based on

horisontal loops

• Until now it is difficult to get drilling permissions for borehole-based applications

• There are technology to build ground coupled heat pump systems with minimum risk

• Situation with borehole-based applications is changing, but still a lot of explaining is needed to increase the knowledge base at all levels

Thank you!

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Air source heat pumps

Ground source heat pumps