Modules

Prerequisites

Contents

• Basic geological principles • Overview of different geothermal systems • Geothermal fluids – thermal and chemical properties • Heat transfer in the subsurface • Reservoir characterization • Design of a geothermal system • Geothermal electricity: historical development, types of power plants • Geothermal heat usage: residential heating, industrial applications • Environmental issues of geothermal energy • Geothermal heat networks • Integration of ground-source heat pumps in flexible heat supply systems • Economics of geothermal energy and heat networks / disttrict heating • Support schemes for geothermal energy and heat networks / disttrict heating

Learning outcomes

The module provides an overview of geothermal technologies and their application for the generation of electricity, heating & cooling and for underground thermal energy storage. The students understand the geothermal heat source, properties of the subsurface and thermal transfer mechanisms. They apply knowledge to the basic design of local heat distribution systems, the integration of low temperature geothermal heat sources and ground-source heat pumps in the energy supply systems and the use of geothermal storage options for the balancing of seasonal heating&cooling demands with asynchronous supply and demand cycles as well as the basic economic considerations of geothermal energy generation and heat network integration.

Assessment

• Written examination (duration 60 minutes) 60 % • 2 Seminar works (creating presentation slides) including presentation (duration 15 minutes, presentation ca. 10 slides) 40 %