As homeowners continue to look for new ways to heat their homes, many are turning their attention towards their gardens. Instinctively, you may think of a log fire or biomass burning, but we’re thinking of something that’s considerably bigger – geothermal borehole drilling to install ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Coring into geothermal pockets deep within the earth may sound complicated, but it’s actually far simpler than it appears. Today, our team would like to show you exactly how it works – after all, geothermal drilling is our forte at Borehole Solutions!
How does geothermal borehole drilling work?
Once you’ve weighed up the options and decided to install a GSHP, your first step is to contact a contractor. Borehole drilling isn’t something you can DIY; you’re going to want a trained professional to carry out the installation process. There are a few techniques you can use to do this. In some situations, rotary drilling may be most effective, whereas others may call for sonic drilling. Once the boreholes have been excavated, loops of piping are fed through. Refrigerants (heat-carrying fluids) are circulated through this, enabling the heat absorbed from geothermal reservoirs to be transferred to the surface.
This isn’t just a one size fits all process, however. Whilst the inner workings of the GSHP system will remain the same, the number of boreholes required differs. Typically, the larger the property that requires heating, the more boreholes that need to be drilled. Also, the property’s underlying geology impacts this, as some rocks and soils transfer heat more efficiently than others.
Vertical or Horizontal Installation?
The most main determinant of this decision comes down to one factor: how much space do you have available? Where space is limited, vertical boreholes will be your go-to. Where borehole drilling is required for vertical systems, depths of up to 100m will be drilled. For horizontal systems, the trench will only reach a few meters deep, but 200m of piping will be laid out. For more information about these two types of ground collectors, click here!
Can geothermal drilling be the future of clean energy?
There’s no doubting that geothermal drilling has the potential to provide a significant amount of clean energy to the UK. Its geology has been shaped by volcanic activity and tectonic movements over millions of years. In particular, areas such as Cornwall and the Lake District have been identified as having the most promising geothermal resources. These regions have a combination of high heat flow, geological permeability and existing infrastructure, making them ideal for geothermal extraction.
Contact Us
As our society continues to commit to greener living, geothermal energy and GSHPs are only becoming more popular. So, if you’re looking to find out more about our geothermal borehole drilling services, get in touch! Call us on 01733 200501 or send an email to info@boreholesolutions.com to speak to the Borehole Solutions team today.
