geothermal energy in ireland - rhc- · pdf filegeothermal association of ireland geothermal...

GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

Geothermal Energy in Ireland

RHC Conference Dublin

23rd April 2013

John Burgess Chairman

Geothermal Association of Ireland


• The Geothermal Association of Ireland (GAI) was

formed as a not for profit association in 1998 to

promote the development of geothermal energy

in all its forms in Ireland.

• GAI is committed to education and awareness

building to promote the use of geothermal as a

sustainable energy system in Ireland.

• http://www.geothermalassociation.ie/

• Member of European Geothermal Energy

Council and International Geothermal

Association

• Affiliated to the Institute of Geologists of Ireland

http://www.geothermalassociation.ie/


GAI Committee 2013 • Chair John Burgess

• Vice Chair & Treasurer James Byrne

• Past Chair Brian Connor

• Secretariat Monica Lee

Taly Hunter-Williams

• Newsletter Editor Gareth Ll Jones

• International Liaison Officer Mark Muller

• Development Officer Ric Pasquali

• Padraig Briody Geothermal Well Drilling Standards

• Events Officer Alistair Allen

• Membership Officer Heather Murphy


GAI Activities • Conferences 2008, 2011 and Nov 2013

• Newsletters

• Website http://www.geothermalassociation.ie/

• Competition for Geothermal Installation of the

Year (Domestic) in 2011

• Competition for Geothermal Installation of the

Year (Non-Domestic) in 2013

• Communication link for members through to

EGEC and IGA

http://www.geothermalassociation.ie/


Mapping Ireland’s Geothermal Energy Resource

Data Acquisition for

Warm Springs

Minerex ‘81-’83

report

GSI Monitoring

Local Authorities

UCC – Alistair Allen

Drilling companies


Shallow Aquifers

of Ireland

Geological Survey of Ireland

Hydrogeology data base

www.gsi.ie

Geothermal Energy


Geothermal Energy Ireland – Study for SEAI Undertaken by SLR (CSA) - Róisín Goodman & Gareth Jones

2004 Mapping of current geothermal energy resources in Ireland

Identify & analyse sources of geothermal energy utilisation.

GIS-linked geothermal database – series of maps publically available

‘Play Fairway Analysis’ an assessment of geological resource exploration risk on a geological basin scale used by the oil exploration industry. The study is the first attempt to apply this technique to the analysis of the geothermal potential of Ireland.


50°C

20°C

40°C

20°C

70°C

20°C 50°C

100°C

150°C

Geothermal

Modelled

Heat

Potential

at depth 500m

1 km 2.5 km 5 km

0-10m

90°C

9ºC

12ºC


SEAI - Play Fairway Analysis Data

Overall

Geothermal

Risk

category

Risk Sub-category Definition

Low

Insulator, Reservoir and Source all 3

Low risk

2 parameters Low risk, One Medium risk

1 parameter Low risk, Two Medium risk

Medium


Medium risk

2 parameters Medium risk, One High risk

and also One parameter Medium risk, 1

Low risk, 1 High risk

High

One parameter Medium risk, 2 High

risk


High risk

http://maps.seai.ie/geothermal/

http://maps.seai.ie/geothermal/


• Expand temperature database • Determine the 3-D distribution of radiogenic

heat production within the crust • Model and understand the variation in

temperature and heat-flow across Ireland Test a strategic set of 8 geothermal target “types”

Joint inversion tools to enhance capacity for imaging and assessing the properties of geothermal resources: aquifers and granitic bodies

IRETHERM

THERMAL MODELLING

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD SURVEYS (MT AND CSEM)

DEVELOP NEW NUMERICAL GEOPHYSICAL MODELLING TOOLS

Develop a strategic and holistic understanding of Ireland's deep geothermal energy potential through integrated modelling of new and existing geophysical, geological and hydrochemistry data.

IRETHERM Project

www.iretherm.ie

[email protected]

http://www.iretherm.ie/


IRETHERM is a significant geothermal energy research

project funded by a Science Foundation Ireland (Grant

No. 10/IN.1/I3022) to Principal Investigator Alan Jones

(Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies).

• Academic-government-industry collaborative project

(9 institutions / companies and 14 scientific collaborators formally involved).

• North-South “all-island” Ireland initiative.

• Initiated: April 2011

• Duration: 54 months

• Website: www.iretherm.ie

IRETHERM Project

http://www.iretherm.ie/


Other Research in Ireland

1. University College Dublin - Thermal Characterization Equipment

a) UCD Thermal Response Testing (TRT) Rig

b) UCD Thermal Probe System

c) UCD ‘Single-Source’ Thermal Analysis System

d) UCD Divided Bar Thermal Analysis System

e) Thermal Conductivity of Concrete Mixes

2. Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

a) Shallow geothermal open & closed loop optimisation

b) Utilising geothermal solutions for aqua-culture

3. University College Cork

a) Understanding tidal influence at the interface with the buried

valley aquifers in Cork



Shallow Geothermal Resource project

1. Best practice guidance

2. Geothermal database

3. Ground source heat collector suitability maps

www.gsi.ie/Programmes/Groundwater/Geothermal

http://www.slrconsulting.com/

http://www.gsi.ie/Programmes/Groundwater/Geothermal



Shallow Geothermal Resource project

http://www.gsi.ie/Programmes/Groundwater/Geothermal.htm


Shallow Aquifer / Urban Heat Island Resources

- Cork

Reference - Davis 2003

15 to 19°C


GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN CORK

Cork Co.

Library

Cooling

UCC IT

Cooling

Glucksman Gallery


Industrial & Commercial Enterprises need to reduce energy cost

• Vistakon – Limerick

– Using an open loop system to provide 1MW of direct cooling

– 2 pumps, 35m lift, variable flow

– Aquifer temperature 11°C, discharge temperature <19°C to

Salmonoidal river

– Environmental Protection Agency approved monitoring system

– Reduced CO2 emissions by 740 tonnes p.a.

– Capex €2.5m

• IKEA Ballymun Dublin

– Dublin store construction figures:

– 1.5 MW capacity for both heating & cooling

– geothermal systems 150 bores 120m deep

– A total of 18,000 metres of drilling

– Borehole drilling cost per metre: €65 - €70

– Each 12m of drilling equivalent to 1kw of heating & cooling capacity

– €2 million cost – over 50% was cost of borehole field


Cliffs of Moher

Heating & Cooling

Invisible – no flues!

No emissions

No boreholes

Minimum plant

Poor soil/water

6km Collector

120kW


GSHP - Domestic Small

Scale Exploitation

• Single Dwelling Heat Pumps

• 10-30 kW

• Started to be accepted

• Strong growth

• Market collapse

Need to avoid emerging technology issues:

- Equipment standards

- System design

- Technician standards

- Government subsidy programmes

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

No. of Systems

Installed pa

2,751

2,673

1,900

50,100,546,990,1300

2,205

922

1,293

989


Shallow Geothermal – Market Status


REGEOCITIES_ CONCEPT

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. Overcome barriers to regulation of geothermal resources & administrative

procedures.

2. Identification and transferring of best practices from mature to juvenile regions

3. Make Recommendations to develop a common pre-normative framework

4. Engagement of local administration for implementing project results

5. Development of a training program focused on the target groups (administrative

personnel from the cities and regions)

6. Achievement of the smart-cities concept within shallow geothermal systems

Final Goal - the implementation and adoption of the project recommendations by means of

the endorsed cities and regions in order to promote the GSHP and help to achieve the

objectives marked in the NREAP documents

www.regeocities.eu

http://egec.info/

http://www.brgm.fr/index.jsp

http://www.upv.es/index-es.html

http://www.sp.se/en

http://www.geus.dk/index.htm

http://www.slrconsulting.com/

http://www.iftechnology.com/

http://www.sssup.it/

http://spw.wallonie.be/


www.geodh.eu

OBJECTIVES

Stimulate the development & uptake of geothermal district heating projects

In 14 EU Member States including Ireland

By:

• Increasing awareness of the potential for deployment & applications of both

geothermal energy and district heating benefits

• Simplifying regulations and improving national and local framework

• Attracting more financing

• Transferring best practices from mature regions

• Training energy officers on geothermal DH technologies.


Deep Geothermal – Dublin Basin

• First geothermal exploration project at the Blackrock to

Newcastle Fault (BNF) identified as a potential

geothermal target;

• Commenced in 2007 and included the drilling of two

deep exploratory boreholes to a depth of 1,400m in 2008;

• Water bearing fractures with temperatures of 46.2°C

were intersected;

• 2D seismic reflection survey and VSP to image the base

of the basin estimated at c. 4,000m;

• Planning Application for the first deep geothermal

electricity plant in Ireland

• Project has not progressed to date


Winner

Brecan Mooney

Memorial Award

Geothermal

Installation

of the Year

‘Kilsharvan’


Paul Sikora, (GAI Development Officer), Brian Mooney, Mary Mc Donald

(homeowner), John Burgess (Chairman of the GAI), Noreen Mooney, Sean Mc

Donald (homeowner), Gerard Duffy of Eurotech Renewables (Winner of the

Brecan Mooney Installation of the Year Award 2011)


Brian Mooney and Noreen Mooney, parents of Brecan Mooney presented the Brecan Mooney

Installation of the Year Award to Daryl Duffy of Eurotech Renewables Limited for the innovative

geothermal heating system it installed in Sean and Mary McDonald’s home in county. Pictured

along with Gerry Cunnane of Wind Water Solar Energy Systems Ltd. Padraig Murphy of Green

Renewable Heating Ltd. and Mike Cotter of Alternative Heating & Cooling Ltd who were all awarded

a Brecan Mooney Award of Merit at the Award Ceremony together with Members of the GAI

Committee


Installation of the Year Competition for the Brecan Mooney Award

4 categories:

1. Closed loop system less than 250kW in thermal capacity,

2. Open loop system less than 250kW in thermal capacity,

3. Closed loop system greater than 250kW in thermal capacity, and

4. Open loop system greater than 250kW in thermal capacity.

Winners will be announced on 13th November at the Geothermal Energy conference in

Kilkenny.

Criteria to be used in the assessment of the entries will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

a) Comprehensiveness of design and operational information submitted in the initial entry,

b) Quality of Installation (Accessibility, Maintainability, Redundancy, Clarity, Controls),

c) Energy performance (Efficiency kWth/kWe, CO2 emissions avoided, Annual maintenance and

running cost savings, and estimated simple payback on capital expenditure),

d) Operating Performance (Reliability, Records of system operating parameters including sub-

metered energy data to show specific geothermal system performance).

e) Environmental Due Diligence – appraisal of impact on ground water and waterways. Ongoing

reporting of system performance to local authorities and/or EPA.


Geothermal Conference Ireland Nov 2013 0.1 Welcome (John Burgess- GAI Chairman)

0.2 Opening Keynote Address: Is the Geothermal Industry "Sustainable" ? Robin Curtis (Geoscience Ltd.)

Session 1 Deep Geothermal Energy Development Resource Mapping / Regulation / Opportunities

1.1 Iretherm - developing a strategic and holistic understanding of Ireland's geothermal energy potential

through integrated modelling of new and existing geophysical and geological data (Alan Jones, DIAS)

1.2 Exploring the potential for deep geothermal in Northern Ireland (John Kelly, SLR Consulting Ltd;)

1.3 The East African Rift - exploring geothermal energy resource for power generation in Malawi (Alistair

Allen, University College Cork)

Session 2 Shallow Geothermal Energy Development - Resource Mapping / Regulation / Opportunities

2.1 The Energy Efficiency Directive – obligations and opportunities (Heather Murphy, Matheson)

2.2 Open Loop resource exploitation - environmental considerations and approvals - North and South (Taly

Hunter-Williams, GSI)

2.3 Developing best practice guidance & standards for adoption by the drilling industry for geothermal

applications (Dr. Stephen Thomas, OGI Groundwater Specialists)

Poster Competition –Display of research and project posters over lunch

Session 3 Education and Training

3.1 The REGEOCITIES Project - Common Regulatory Framework for Shallow Geothermal Energy (Ric

Pasquali,SLR Consulting)

3.2 "Geotrainet + " - plans for Accredited Training in the UK (Nic Wincott, Neo Energy)

3.3 Shallow Geothermal Resource Mapping and Guidelines (Monica Lee, GSI)

3.4 Meeting Part 'L' R.E. targets using geothermal district heating for high density residential development

(Richie Sherlock – Daikin and Irish Heatpump Association)

Session 4 Installation of the Year Competition: announcement of winners of 4 Categories


Summing-Up • Regulatory drivers & energy cost will continue to push the need to adopt

renewable technologies. Geothermal applications offer a clean, effective

solution.

• Improving wind energy contribution to Irish grid will lower CO2 emission

factor. Continued improvement in Ireland’s electricity generation and

distribution systems will reduce the Primary Energy Factor. These 2

factors will greatly enhance the importance of Ground Source Heat

Pumps in reducing CO2 emissions.

• GSHPs offer life-cycle cost competitive alternative to oil and LPG boilers

• Research into Ireland’s geothermal energy potential and public support

for district heating schemes will open up new opportunities for deep and

shallow geothermal energy.

• Promotion of proven, high quality, lower life-cycle cost installations is

essential. ‘Installation of the Year’ competition plays an important role.

• GAI Conference in November 2013. Location – Kilkenny. See you there!

Website: www.geothermalassociation.ie

http://www.geothermalassociation.ie

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