New Business

Replacement of Natural Gas with Geothermal Energy

Situation

The quest for climate-neutral energy is unfolding across various fields. One of our clients in Romania wanted to make the energy supply for glasshouse horticulture businesses more sustainable by using geothermal energy. After studying various technologies for process installations, they sought an engineering partner with experience in geothermal energy.

Solution

The company approached KH Engineering through the supplier of the geothermal process installation equipment. What was unique about this case was that only the flow rate and temperature of the water to be pumped were known. It was not yet precisely known how much heat could be extracted. Therefore, KH Engineering began with a pre-feasibility study (FEL 1) and an associated cost estimate.

The project setup briefly: after drilling a well, the pumped warm water is first degassed, because the water pumped from kilometres deep always also brings up natural gas. This gas is then used in this project in a combined heat and power (CHP) system to generate electricity. Our client uses this electricity for a heat pump that further heats the water.

The hot water is then filtered to prevent clogging and transfers its heat via heat exchangers to a second circuit, which runs through pipes to horticultural businesses and industry. After they have extracted the initial high-temperature heat, the water, now at a lower temperature, is used to provide heating for nearby households.

Client benefits

Horticultural businesses will no longer need to use natural gas to heat their greenhouses, but will use geothermal energy after the project is completed. A particularly clever idea from the client was to build a tomato canning factory immediately at this horticulture area. In the summer, the tomato growers do not need heat and the energy generated can be used for the cannery. A large number of nearby households also make use of this climate-friendly heat.

Advantage of working with KH Engineering

KH Engineering has extensive experience in engineering geothermal energy plants. As a result, we were able to assess the feasibility of the project for the client in a short time. Eventually, the installation was able to generate 20 MW of heat, a considerable amount. With this information, the client could proceed to arrange financing for the actual engineering and construction of the project.

Activities of KH Engineering

KH Engineering performed the following activities for this project:

  • FEL 1 Feasibility study
  • CAPEX cost estimation
  • Design process diagram with various scenarios
  • Plot plan with 3D rendering


Project Manager: Marijn Blommaert

For more information about this project or opportunities in the energy transition, please contact our colleagues from New Energy & Infrastructure.

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