| Title | Heating Three Building Complexes in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with Geothermal Energy -- Design Options and Economics |
|---|---|
| Authors | Guenther, Raymond A. |
| Year | 1982 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Direct Use; USA; Nebraska; Scottsbluff; District Heating System; Economics; Reinjection; Flow Rates |
| Abstract | The topic of this paper is the feasibility of heating three building complexes with geothermal energy. The complexes are a college, a hospital, and the high schools of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The resources is assume to be 180°F water from aquifers 4700 to 5200 ft below the surface; the static water level is expected to be about 2000 ft below the surface. Reinjection will be necessary. We discuss some of the design problems as wells s the economics of utilizing this resource. Various scenarios for heating the complexes are explored. The payback periods in terms of current energy prices range from 9 to 32 years. Using DOE projected fuel prices the payback periods range from 6 to 11 years. The most cost effective project would be to heat the College and part of the Hospital with geothermal energy. |