| Title | Cost and Return on Investment for Geothermal Heat Pump Systems in France |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christian BOISSAVY |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | shallow geothermal, ground source heat pump, open and close loop systems, power from 5 to 5 000 kWth, final cost of energy, RoI |
| Abstract | The geothermal sector using heat pump represent 80% of the 0, 5 billion euros geothermal market a year in France. The main part is achieved by close loop systems (CLS) from 5 to 20 kWth adapted to single housing. Due to the crisis the number of installed systems decreased dramatically from 20 000 in 2009 to less than 5 000 in 2013. The actual developing market is based on doublet schemes using mature and improved technologies. This market is focused on residential housing, offices and tertiary buildings using or not cold distribution loops with decentralized heat pumps. The study carried out by AFPG shows that under 100 kWth it is very difficult to get an economical solution using doublet scheme and that vertical closed loop exchanger remains the best system. Over 100 kWth when a water underground resource is available doublet system can provide pay back which is better when the thermal power needed is increasing. A typical ROI for this type of installation is generally below 10 years period following the size of the installation. The pay back is lowered if any cold production by free-cooling or using heat pumps is used. Before 2010, annual COP of 3, 5 was acceptable, performance of 4 to 5 are now common for well-designed installations. Big scale installations using BHE remains marginal because doublet scheme offers better pay back and consequently are installed only if there is no existing productive aquifer. Investment cost for close loop systems is from 1500 to 3000 € and from 750 to 3000 €/kWth for open loop based on water. These systems have been supported the last 4 years by the Heat Fund managed by ADEME, 64 projects has been funded representing an supplementary annual energy saving of 15000 tons of oil equivalent. During the same period the geothermal power installed growth was at 5 to 6% per year giving a total installed power of 2500 MWth in 2013. |