Utility company, Hillerød Forsyning and Innargi have signed an agreement to explore the possibilities of geothermal district heating in Hillerød. This initiative aligns with Hillerød Forsyning’s ambition to completely phase out natural gas and reduce the consumption of biomass while providing green, inexpensive heating to an increasing number of citizens as the district heating network expands.
Geothermal energy is heat from the earth’s interior – a local, stable, renewable energy source. Hillerød Forsyning has long aspired to utilise geothermal energy for district heating, and already in 2013, the utility company carried out seismic surveys to map the subsurface.
“Utilising geothermal energy for district heating is an obviously good idea and an ambition that the board have worked hard to make a reality. The collaboration with Innargi enables us to secure CO2-free heat that neither Trump nor Putin can shut down.”
Tue Tortzen, Chairman of the Board, Hillerød Forsyning.
Geothermal energy is always available
Two to three kilometres beneath Hillerød there is expected to be 60-80 degrees Celsius geothermal water that can be pumped up to the surface via deep boreholes, where the heat is transferred to the water in the district heating network in a closed circuit. Once the heat is transferred, the geothermal water is pumped back underground.
If the pumps in the geothermal plants are powered by renewable energy from the sun or wind, geothermal energy is not only CO2 neutral but also free from other harmful emissions. The geothermal heat source is always available – even when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing.
The parties are assessing the possibility of establishing a plant with 2-4 wells, which in total is expected to be able to supply between 20 and 40 MW of district heating. The exact location, plant capacity and other technical issues will be clarified in the coming months.
Ambitious timeline
The parties have agreed to aim for clarification and an agreement by the end of September.
“Hillerød Forsyning already has considerable knowledge about geothermal energy, seismic data is available, and there is a clear ambition on both sides of the table to work quickly together on the technical issues that needs to be clarified before a contract can be signed. We look forward to this collaboration – and hope to contribute to green district heating in Hillerød in a few years.”
Samir Abboud, CEO at Innargi