| Title | Geothermal Energy Utilisation -Ireland Country Update |
|---|---|
| Authors | Pasquali, R., Jones, G.L., Allen, A., Burgess, J., and Hunter Williams, T. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Conference |
| Keywords | Ireland, country update, geothermal, shallow, heat pumps, low enthalpy. |
| Abstract | Geothermal energy in Ireland is dominated by the exploitation of low temperature resources for space heating using heat pumps. The last country update in 2010 showed domestic ground source heat pumps installations for space heating and domestic hot water as the principal application primarily as a result of government support through dedicated grant schemes towards the capital investment costs of installations. The marked rate of increase reported in the number of heat pump units installed in Ireland up to 2010 accounting for up to 164MW installed capacity from ground source alone has now declined. The currently difficult economic situation and the end of the dedicated financial support for domestic ground source heat pumps has resulted in very few systems being installed during 2011 and 2012, with the main deployment attributed to large scale open and closed loop ground source systems with individual installed capacities of up to 2MW in size. Since the initial exploration drilling on the southern margin of the Dublin Basin, the deep geothermal energy sector has progressed very slowly. Despite encouraging results from 2D seismic reflection surveys at the Newcastle project and planning for the first deep geothermal electricity plant being granted in late 2010, the lack of subsidies for geothermal electricity generation and the holdup in the implementation of a legislative framework for licensing deep geothermal resource exploration and development have stalled the sector. Extensive research aimed at better understanding deep geothermal resources in different geological settings in Ireland is being undertaken. A number of initiatives to stimulate a sustainable future development of the shallow geothermal energy sector in Ireland are being implemented. These are aimed at tackling some of the barriers to the future development of the geothermal sector that have been identified. Technical guideline documentation and new interactive mapping of the shallow geothermal resources and their potential for deployment in Ireland are being developed with a view to providing standards for system installation and increasing public awareness amongst users and local authorities about shallow geothermal energy potential. The structure of a national database of ground source systems is being developed with a view to improving the reporting of shallow geothermal energy installations in Ireland. New comprehensive training initiatives and certification for industry stakeholders involved in design and installation of systems are currently being undertaken. |