Geothermal heating and cooling comes to Spanish school
Source: Monkey Business Image
Overview:
Retrofitting public buildings to increase energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energy is high on the agenda of many stakeholders, such as schools, hospitals, and municipal governments. Geothermal heating and cooling is not only a sustainable and economically smart choice, it is a positive example that can be replicated across neighbourhoods, cities and towns in Europe and globally.
IES Complutense, a school in the Spanish Alaclá Henares is the first school in Madrid to install a geothermal heating and cooling system. The school caters for over 800 pupils studying secondary education and baccalaureates. The geothermal system allows for stable indoor temperatures of 15-18 degrees Celsius all year round. The school's heating and cooling supply consequently is independent of the seasons, which can have temperatures varying significantly.
The geothermal Heat Pump system was installed by Regin. The GHP system is part of a building management service constantly monitored to increase energy-saving .
Technical details:
36 wells of 125 meters were drilled and connected to a heating and cooling network across the entire school providing 242 KW cooling and 310 KW heating. An air-source heat pump provides backup supplies during peak energy periods. Hence, 100% of the annual heating requirements and 80% of the cooling needs are covered by the renewable energy mix.
Financing:
Madrid’s regional goverment provided a grant of €5,4 million. The total investment cost €28,7 million. Seven more similar investments in Madrid’s schools are in the pipeline with the aim of reducing non-renewable energy consumption by at least 30%.
Techincal details
Commissioning: soon
Installed Geothermal Capacity MWth: 242 KW cooling and 310 KW heating
Well depth: 125 meters
Wells: 36
Temperature: 15-18 C
Financing: grant of €5.4 million