GEO4CIVHIC

Overview

The overall technological approach of the project is to reduce cost, increase efficiency and ease of installation of each of the main components of the value chain of the geothermal plant by developing: technical innovations in drilling, borehole heat exchangers, heat pumps, controls and integration of other hybrids; and, to develop engineering and decision support tools in a holistic approach to identify the most appropriate solutions, raising awareness and increasing credibility and supporting implementation.

The demonstration facilities will be examples of retrofitting where the project technological solutions will prove the efficiency improvements of borehole heat exchanger and heat pump based on extensive monitoring data. The improvements in drilling speed and accessibility will be shown at 4 demonstration facilities under different climatic conditions and undergrounds; 3 are historical buildings (Italy, Ireland and Malta) while the remaining is residential (Belgium). The team will be involved in 12 full fledge assessment studies related to a wide array of buildings (monumental and residential) located in different European countries.

UNESCO, through its Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, will supervise, with the support of the management authorities and the technical partners, the implementation of the real demonstration component adapted to the World Heritage site of Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta in Italy, while a full feasibility study is foreseen in the World heritage property of Split in Croatia.

The case in Ferrara is the Angel's Gate, a historical and iconic building in which an innovative medium-sized hybrid dual source high temperature heat pump developed will be installed. The Croatian case is the Museum of the Croatian Archaeological Monuments (MHAS), the oldest Croatian museum, displaying remains of tangible and intangible Croatian culture from the Middle Ages.

Key facts

higher upfront investments compared to other conventional solutions like condensation gas boilers for heating and direct expansion systems for cooling;
difficulties of cost effective and environmentally friendly drilling in the built environment;
need to change Heating and Cooling terminals in order to adequate performance from heat pumps, particularly in historical buildings;
low levels of awareness, reluctance to risks and/or lack of experience amongst the designer and operators in the ultra-conservative building industry.

What GEO4CIVHIC is providing

Dual approach will be applied to accelerate the penetration of shallow geothermal energy plants in retrofitted buildings
Reduce cost, increase efficiency and ease of installation of each of the main components of the value chain of the geothermal plant by developing: technical innovations in drilling, borehole heat exchangers, heat pumps, controls and integration of other hybrids.
Develop engineering and decision support tools in a holistic approach to identify the most appropriate solutions, raising awareness and increasing credibility and supporting implementation