engleski

Utilization of underground structures for geothermal energy

Energy efficiency, technology and market are areas in which new challenges are emerging. One of the main initiatives of EU is to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy balance. In 2009 the share of renewables in electricity generation was 68% in Austria, while the EU average was 18%. Until EU admittance (2013), Croatia needs to increase the share of renewable share in the total energy balance to 10%. Other main issue is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. At a global level, rising energy prices and climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions necessitates improving the energy efficiency in a range of human activities. This paper presents the potential of utilization of underground structures for geothermal energy. The advantages of using geothermal source of energy are in its virtually unlimited supply, the independence of fossil fuels, advantageous economics of its operation, and the overall impact on the climate. Obtaining the energy requires drilling and installation of underground probes and pipes, since natural constant ground temperature is used as a heat source in winter and for cooling in summer. In that sense, large parts of various conventional underground structures can be used not only to fulfill their structural load-bearing function, but also as receptors and conveyers of geothermal energy that will subsequently be used by surrounding buildings. There is a great geothermal potential in underground structural elements like piles, barrettes, diaphragm walls, basement walls, tunnel linings, anchors, geosynthetics, all of which can be used as absorber elements for ground heat exchange. Geothermal potential of Croatia in area of underground structures utilization is starting to develop, where huge impulse came through foundation of 'Croatian Center for Shallow Geothermal Research'.

underground structures; geothermal energy; sustainability

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