The GSI Shallow Geothermal Energy Resource Project
The Groundwater Section of the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) has recently awarded SLR Consulting Ireland and Arup the contract to produce:
1) Best practice guidance for installation of geothermal systems in Ireland.
2) Installations database that will contain appropriate information about geothermal installations and geothermal information (Geothermal Energy/Installations Database).
3) National shallow geothermal energy resources maps
The GSI has been involved with geothermal resources since the 1960s. In the last two decades, GSI's Groundwater Section’s involvement with geothermal resources has been to a much lesser extent as its focus has been on protecting the quality and sustainability of groundwater drinking water supplies. For the last two years, however, the Groundwater Section has been increasingly involved with geothermal resources. This shift reflects societal and governmental needs to use greener energy, both for intrinsic environmental reasons and to help meet CO2 reduction targets, which will have consequential, direct and indirect, economic benefits.
Currently, however, there is:
a) limited national, geological information relating to geothermal energy,
b) no legislation for the installation of shallow systems, and
c) no best practice guidelines for installation/use, for either industry/providers, or potential end users.
The aim of the current project is to address these shortcomings through the creation of guidelines, collection and collation of data, and the creation of maps. These deliverables will be achieved through collaboration with government departments/agencies (e.g. SEAI, DCENR, EMD, EPA), geothermal and other industry organisations (e.g. Geothermal Association of Ireland, Heat Pump Association of Ireland), local authorities, appropriate academic institutes and consultants (e.g. drilling, hydrogeological, architects) as required, to gather all available, relevant information (including regulatory) in order to develop the themes within this consultancy.
If you are interested in the project and wish to receive more information or if you can contribute data on installations that you have made or been involved with, please get in touch with the project team at shallowgeothermal@gsi.ie.
Shallow Geothermal Energy Resource Project - Consultation
GSI Shallow Geothermal Resource Project Workshop
Monica Lee/Taly Hunter Williams, Groundwater Programme, GSI
Shallow Geothermal Resource Project Documents