The heat pump station, equipped with a 10 MW electrical heat pump, will capture energy from underground geothermal water, which will then be transferred to the client's supply area in the northern part of Aarhus.
Solar and wind energy have proven to be valuable assets in the green energy transition, but the Earth holds infinite amounts of renewable energy in the form of geothermal heat and this can help to produce energy when the sun is not shining and there is no wind.
Innargi and the Danish utility company Kredsløb have entered into a collaboration to bring geothermal heating to the city of Aarhus. The two companies are currently working on a project that, when completed, will consist of 14-17 geothermal wells distributed across seven locations in Aarhus. With a total capacity of 110 MW, the geothermal system will cover up to 20 percent of the district heating need within the Kredsløb supply area. This is equivalent to the annual heat consumption of 36,000 households. The entire facility is expected to be completed by 2029 and will be the largest of its kind within the EU.
The first geothermal plant in Skejby, Aarhus, is expected to deliver its first sustainable energy during the second half of 2025.
Following a tender process, Aalborg CSP was selected by Innargi as partner on the project. The company has designed a modular hydrocarbon-based heat pump, capable of handling the - at times - fluctuating flow of the geothermal water while delivering the desired high supply temperature.
The complete heat pump station in Skejby will be able to provide up to 18 MW of heat and a temperature of up to 95° C to the local district heating network.
“Innargi brings fantastic know-how and deep expertise in geothermal energy, and we share their ambitious goal of creating the most affordable district heating possible” said Svante Bundgaard, CEO of Aalborg CSP. “We are extremely honored and proud to contribute with our experience in heat pumps, integration, and project management in realizing a groundbreaking piece of district heating infrastructure together with Innargi. “This will potentially benefit cities not only within Denmark but also across Europe.”
In addition to a heat pump station optimized for geothermal energy, a building standard has been designed and constructed that both Innargi and Kredsløb can be used for future geothermal plants. Furthermore, the building design is required to meet specific visual and architectural demands to ensure that it blends into the local environment at the location.
“We are very pleased with the solution – and not least the collaboration – we have developed with the team at Aalborg CSP over the past few months” added Lars Bjørn Heineke, Project Manager at Innargi. “The facility on Skejbyvej will be the first of its kind in Aarhus. Finding the best and most long-term solutions has been a central element throughout the collaboration process. “This will enable us delivering in stable, green district heating to the people of Aarhus for many years to come.”
The construction is expected to be completed by January 2025, after which the installation of the heat pump and technical systems will begin. The heat pump station will be operational in the fall of 2025.
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