geothermal heating

When the cold winter comes we need to heat our house to feel more comfortable. It is then that we have doubts about global warming, pollution, etc. By the use of conventional energies in heating. However, we can count on renewable energy that is used to heat homes. It's about geothermal heating.

Geothermal energy uses the heat from the Earth to heat water and increase the temperature. In this article we are going to explain everything about geothermal heating. Therefore, if you want to know what this energy is about and how it works, keep reading 🙂

What is geothermal energy?

The first thing is to do a brief review about what geothermal energy is. You could say that it is the energy stored in the form of heat on the surface of the Earth. Encompasses all the heat that is stored in soils, groundwater, and rocks, regardless of its temperature, depth or origin.

Thanks to this we know that to a greater or lesser extent we have energy that is stored under the ground and that we can and must take advantage of. Depending on the temperature at which it is, we can use it for two purposes. The first is to give heat (sanitary hot water, air conditioning or geothermal heating). On the other hand, we have the generation of electrical energy from geothermal.

Geothermal energy with low enthalpy it is used for the production of heat and heating. This is the one that interests us how to know.

How is geothermal energy used?

Studies have been carried out which conclude that at depths of about 15-20 meters, the temperature becomes stable all year round. Although the temperature outside varies, at that depth it will be stable. It is a few degrees higher than the annual average, about 15-16 degrees.

If we descend more than 20 meters, we find that the temperature increases in a gradient of 3 degrees every hundred meters. This is due to the famous geothermal gradient. The deeper we go, the closer we are to the core of the Earth and further away from solar energy.

All the energy contained in the soil fed by the earth's core, sunlight and rainwater can be used by exchanging them with a heat transfer fluid.

To take advantage of this inexhaustible energy at all times of the year, we need transport and a heat transfer fluid. You can also take advantage of groundwater and take advantage of its temperature.

Geothermal heating operation

To increase the temperature of a room on winter days we need equipment that can absorb all the energy captured by the hot photo and transfer it to the cold focus. The team that enables this It is called a geothermal heat pump.

In a heat pump, energy is absorbed from the outside air and is capable of transferring it to the inside. These machines generally perform well and are widely used in outdoor conditions, if necessary (although their effectiveness decreases). The same goes for aerothermal heat pumps. They have good yields, but they depend on the weather conditions.

The geothermal heat pump offers an undeniable advantage over other heat pumps. This is the stable temperature of the Earth. We must bear in mind that if the temperature is constant throughout the year, the performance will not depend on the outside conditions as in the other cases. The advantage is that it will always be absorbing or giving up the energy at the same temperature.

Therefore, it can be said that the water-water geothermal heat pump It is one of the best thermal transfer equipment on the market. We will only have the consumption of the circulator pump edl heat transfer fluid (this fluid is basically water with antifreeze) and the compressor.

Geothermal energy equipment is evolving a lot in recent years and being increasingly competitive in the market. It could be said that they are on the same level as other equipment with class A + and A ++ efficiencies for heating systems

Energy applications

Geothermal energy is not yet widely used in homes. In building heating it can be found as part of an energy saving plan. Among the applications of the Earth's energy we find:

• Geothermal heating.
• Sanitary hot water.
• Heated pools.
• Refreshing soil. Although it seems contradictory, when it is hotter outside, the cycle can be reversed. Heat is absorbed from inside the building and released to the subsoil. When this happens, the underfloor heating acts as a cooling system between the house and the outside.

The best and most efficient option is to choose a heat pump system with geothermal heating. It could be with water and a low temperature installation so that maximum efficiency is obtained. If we also have a solar thermal energy installation at home, we will obtain energy savings and significantly reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

And is that geothermal energy has numerous advantages such as:

• Clean energy.
• Current heat pumps with a high degree of efficiency. Very efficient geothermal heating systems.
• Renewable energy.
• Efficient energy.
• CO2 emissions much lower than other fuels.
• Energy for everyone, under our feet.
• Continuous energy, unlike solar and wind.
• Low operating costs.

What to keep in mind

Before carrying out an installation of this type in our home, some aspects must be taken into account. The first thing is to carry out an economic feasibility study for the project. You may not have enough geothermal energy in your area to be efficient. If the facility is large, a more complete geotechnical study may be required.

You have to know that the initial cost of this type of installation is somewhat higher, especially if it is vertical energy capture. However, the repayment periods are between 5 and 7 years.

I hope that with this information you can enter the world of geothermal heating and enjoy all its advantages.