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Building Services Engineering l January/February 2021
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
The role of geothermal energy in meeting carbon reduction obligations New developments in geoscience and technology mean geothermal energy has real potential for heating buildings here in Ireland. This is according to two recentlypublished reports from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and Geological Survey Ireland (GSI).
T
he Assessment of Geothermal Resources for District Heating in Ireland and the Roadmap for a Policy and Regulatory Framework for Geothermal Energy in Ireland were developed to support the Government’s commitments under the Climate Action Plan 2019 and the
Programme for Government, and were published at the Geoscience 2020 conference last November. Both are available online at www.decc.gov.ie and www.gsi.ie Geothermal energy can help decarbonise our heat sector, which represents over one third of Ireland’s energy consumption. Along with individual home and commercial geothermal systems, geothermal district heating networks can be used to heat and cool residential, industrial and municipal buildings. The Assessment of Geothermal Resources summarises recent technological developments, including improved understanding of our Earth systems, which have facilitated the growth of the geothermal energy sector globally. The Roadmap for a Policy and Regulatory Framework sets out the
next steps required to develop geothermal energy in Ireland and invites those with an interest in this area to get in touch. Anybody who wants to become involved in this process can do so by contacting geothermal@decc.gov.ie The theme of the Geoscience 2020 Conference was “Geoscience for Policy”. In addition to geothermal energy, other areas featured were groundwater resources, offshore renewable energy, raw materials and soils. In each case the links between geoscience, Geological Survey Ireland programmes and policy were explored with both international examples and case studies. Geological Survey Ireland provides geological advice and information, and the acquisition of data for this purpose, to the Irish Government. It produces a range of products including maps, reports and databases and acts as a knowledge centre and project partner in all aspects of Irish geology. It is a division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). See www.gsi.ie Q
Map indicating possible temperatures of the crust at approximately 2.5km depth. Examples of applications for geothermal energy. Illustration: Sarah Cheney, National Geographic.
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Credit: Ben Mather, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies/Geological Survey Ireland.
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