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Geoíndex - Network of geothermal stations of Catalonia (XEGCat)

Surface geothermal resource monitoring

The Geothermal Stations Network of Catalonia (XEGCat) is a project started in 2019 by the ICGC whose objective is the implementation of instrumented probes in the subsoil aimed at collecting relevant scientific data on the thermal behaviour of the terrain in order to facilitate the evaluation and monitoring of the superficial geothermal resource and the calculation of new exchange systems using geothermal heat pump at urban and peri-urban scale. The functioning of these systems depends on the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the subsoil and the distribution of the temperature of the ground in depth and, therefore, the knowledge of these variables helps us to understand their potential use.

 

Shallow geothermal energy is a renewable energy available 365 days a year and 24 hours a day that is used by means of thermal exchange with the ground in the first few hundred meters of the subsoil. It is a resource used for air conditioning capable of producing heating, cooling and domestic hot water (DHW) simultaneously. Its main advantages are multiple and varied. It is a consolidated and reliable technology, and a clean, autochthonous and completely local source of energy that does not require the provision and handling of fuels. Geothermal exchange energy using heat pump technology is the most energy efficient thermal renewable that currently exists.

It can be implemented in all types of buildings and equipment individually or using District Heating and Cooling (DHC). Its use generates significant savings in energy consumption and a reduction in CO2 emissions.

These systems have great deployment potential throughout the territory of Catalonia and can contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the thermal demand of the housing stock or commercial and tertiary facilities in cities and towns by replacing fossil fuels (gas, diesel or liquefied petroleum gas) in the energy transition process.

The evaluation of the geothermal resource potential helps to promote the development of planning strategies and sustainable management, as well as to improve municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy plans within the framework of their Action Plans for Sustainable Energy and Climate (PAESC).

 

La evaluación del potencial de recursos geotérmicos ayuda a impulsar el desarrollo de estrategias de planificación y gestión sostenible del territorio, así como mejorar los planes municipales de eficiencia energética y energías renovables en el marco de sus Planes de Acción para la Energía Sostenible y el Clima (PAESC).

ICGC viewer - Geoindex XEGCat
XEGCat of Girona, Salt and Vilablareix (2019-2020)

In March 2021, the XEGCat of Girona, Salt and Vilablareix was constituted by 22 measuring stations

XEGCat of Tarragona (2021-2023)

The implementation of the second operating network started on the year 2022 with around 25 projected geothermal stations

European GeoERA MUSE project (Managing Urban Shallow Geothermal Energy)

Pilot zone Girona

Geo-SIV (v1.2 2022)

Download the software used to perform the preliminary evaluation of geothermal exchange systems in closed circuits up to 70 kW (Type A and B UNE-100715:2014 standard)

Use of the collected data, operation of the XEGCat and technologies used

The monitoring networks of the XEGCat project provide data that can be used for the evaluation and elaboration of maps and the modelling of the surface geothermal resource available at urban scales, but also for the simulation and design of concrete projects for the use of heat exchange with geothermal heat pumps. Stations are equipped with sensors of various characteristics to measure and record the subsoil temperature at various depths and the position of the piezometric level in the existing aquifers. The records are continuous and allow for a vision of the evolution and seasonality of these variables over time. The data also makes it possible to define and map the thermal regime of the land and to carry out specific studies of the Subsurface Urban Heat Island effect or SUHI. They even make it possible to recognize the effects of climate change once a sufficiently long data series is available.

The acquisition systems can be equipped with a telemetry system powered by a 30 W photovoltaic panel and SIM cards that allow data to be automatically sent to the ICGC server, or they can be stored on site to be collected periodically in the field. The data is uploaded and organized by the NetMon© spatial database management system (the ICGC measurement and control station monitoring system) from which, and through a web service, they can be consulted, analysed and downloaded through the ICGC Geoíndex viewer - Network of Geothermal Stations of Catalonia (XEGCat).

Implementation works of the monitoring network in an urban environment

Implementation works of the monitoring network in an urban environment. On the left, drilling of a borehole for the installation of a station.
In the center, instrumentation implementation works. On the right, station prepared for the collection and transmission of data.



Implementation works of the monitoring network in an urban environment

Implementation works of the monitoring network in an urban environment. On the left, drilling of a borehole for the installation of a station.
In the center, instrumentation implementation works. On the right, station prepared for the collection and transmission of data.


 

Implementation status of the XEGCat project (updated, September 2023)

The first network of geothermal stations of the XEGCat project was implemented between 2019 and 2020, and is located in the urban and peri-urban areas of the municipalities of Girona, Salt and Vilablareix, with a total of 11 newly built points and the fitting of 11 additional pre-existing points. The typology of the points implemented, the instrumentation and other configuration data can be consulted on the website XEGCat de Girona-Salt and Vilablareix (2019-2020).

In 2022 the implementation of the second network in the urban area of the city of Tarragona started. 14 boreholes will be drilled to be instrumentalized and additional pre-existent groundwater points will be added. The use of fibre optics will be implemented to monitor the temperature in depth. The type of the implemented points, its instrumentalization and other data can be consulted in the webpage XEGCat de Tarragona (2021-2023).

Also in 2023, a third network is expected to be deployed in the municipality of Vielha (Val d’Aran) within the framework of the Vielha Smart MicroDHC grid project, collaborating with the Conselh Generau d’Aran and the town council of Vielha and Mijaran. This is a future project to develop an urban network of hot and cold thermal conditioning powered by the use of a hybrid geothermal and other renewables sources to supply energy to the following public services of the town of Vielha: the Palai de Gèu, Palai d'Espòrts, IES Aran high school and Garona public school. The implemented network will allow the generation of the geologic, hydrogeologic and geothermal studies that are needed to design the geothermal catchment area for the project to be successful..

ICGC Geoindex- XEGCat viewer

Currently, the data recorded by the monitoring stations of the primary and secondary network of the XEGCat of Girona-Salt and Vilablareix (2019-2020) can be consulted.

Graph form data can be consulted and visualized for each of the stations or control points for up to a year. Graphs show the temperature (ºC) and/or piezometric level (masl) variables with respect to time.

In the selection menu it is possible to choose, firstly, the variable or variables desired to be displayed, the time range in which the query is being made, the stations for which the query is being made and, finally, the sensors of each station for which the data is wanted.

The viewer allows downloading the data in CSV format. For each station, it is also possible to view and download the lithological column of the monitoring station. In the case of the primary network stations, the columns are directly a result of the perforation performed for the deployment of the XEGCat project. In the case of the secondary network stations, the lithological columns come from the existing bibliographic information.

 

Full screen viewer: https://visors.icgc.cat/geotermia-estacions

 

References

AENOR UNE-100715:2014 (2014): “Diseño, ejecución y seguimiento de una instalación geotérmica somera. Parte 1: Sistemas de circuito cerrado vertical”.

ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) (1985): “ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals Volume”.

Blum, P.; Benz, S.A.; Menberg, K.; Bayer, P. (2016): "Subsurface urban heat islands: A renewable source of energy?". Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). I Congreso internacional Madrid Subterra para la exploración y explotación de la energía del subsuelo https://www.madridsubterra.es/ponencias/

García-Céspedes, J.; Herms, I.; Arnó, G.; Ariza, J.; De Felipe, J. J. (2021): "Geo-SIV (v1.0) [programari]". Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya. CC-BY 4.0.

ICGC (2018): “Geoíndex. Geotèrmia superficial”. Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya. Disponible a través del següent enllaç: www.icgc.cat/ca/Administracio-i-empresa/Eines/Visualitzadors-Geoindex/Geoindex-Geotermia-superficial.

IDAE (Instituto para la Diversificación y el Ahorro Energético) (2012): “Guía técnica de diseño de sistemas de intercambio geotérmico de circuito cerrado”.

Ingersoll, L.R.; Plass, H.J. (1948): “Theory of the ground pipe heat source for the heat pump”. ASHVE Trans., 47: 339-348.

IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) (2009): “Ground source heat pump residential and light commercial: design and installation guide”.

UK Geoenergy Observatories (Energy Security and Innovation Observing System). Bristish Geological Survey. https://ukgeos.ac.uk/.

MITMA (Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agencia Urbana) (2019): “Código Técnico de la Edificación (CTE). Documento Básico HE Ahorro de energía (HE)”.

NRCAN (Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada) (2005): “RETScreen® International: Clean Energy Decision Support Centre. Ground-Source Heat Pump Project Analysis”. Disponible a través del següent enllaç: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/M39-111-2005E.pdf.

NRCAN (Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada) (2016): “RETScreen® International: “RETScreen Clean Energy Management Software”. Disponible a través del següent enllaç: www.nrcan.gc.ca/maps-tools-and-publications/tools/modelling-tools/retscreen/7465.

Yang, H.; Cui, P.; Fang, Z. (2019): “Vertical-borehole ground-coupled heat pumps: A review of models and Systems”, Applied Energy, 87: 16-27.