Geothermal District Energy Systems 20101

Geothermal District Energy Systems

In large buildings there are often opportunities for simultaneous heating and cooling or energy transfer from one part of the building to another. Geothermal district energy systems facilitate energy transfer between two or more buildings.

A geothermal district energy system is appropriate when buildings with a diversity of heating and cooling loads are connected together. The GHX is the link that connects the buildings. Several district energy systems have been built around a building such as a hockey arena. The refrigeration plant in the arena takes heat from the ice throughout the winter and must reject heat to somewhere. Typically the heat is wasted to the outside air through a cooling tower.