- Domestic geothermal heat distribution: Households receive heat from the earth using subsurface probes and mechanical pumping systems.
In the town of Altenahr, around 100 structures might soon tap into geothermal energy for heating. According to news from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Environment, a chilly district heating system has been activated in the Altenburg district to facilitate this. Currently, around 30 structures are linked to this system, with more to join soon. Among the 100 potential structures are single-family homes, two schools, and a nursing home.
The ministry stated that the heat source is solely derived from geothermal probes. In Altenburg, around 75 geothermal probes have been set up to a depth of 120 meters. "These probes absorb the surrounding earth's steady heat, which stays around 10 to 12 degrees Celsius all year-round," the ministry explained. The temperature at individual homes is then elevated by local heat pumps. During the summer, the process reverses, with heat from the buildings expelled back into the earth through the pipes.
Environment Minister Katrin Eder (Greens) mentioned, "Over 50% of our energy consumption is purely for heat production, with most – more than 80% – still originating from fossil fuels." By supplying heat through a forward-thinking geothermal system, which relies on climate-friendly energy, Altenburg serves as an example for the region, significantly contributing to fulfilling climate objectives.
The district heating network took around eight months to construct and is maintained by the local Altenburg community. The state government is supporting the project with 1.7 million euros in funding.
The geothermal district heating system in Altenburg uses local heat pumps to elevate temperature at individual homes, operated by absorbing steady heat from the surrounding earth through the 75 gethermal probes. After the summer, the process reverses, with heat from the buildings expelled back into the earth through the pipes using these pumps, which function as both a pump and a heat exchanger.
