Sustainable sub-geothermal heat pump heating in Serbia

Considering the necessity of improvement of Serbian energy production structure through higher participation of clean and renewable energy sources, the possibility of utilization of low enthalpy geothermal waters have been investigated. Energy potential of ground waters of modest temperature levels is usully neglected since it can not be used for direct heating purposes. Nevertheless, if the appropriate heat pump system is utilized, as described in the paper, the energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating could be achieved. From the environmental aspect particularly interesting would be the application of sub-geothermal heat pump in already existing high-temperature residential heating systems, as a complete substitution of old, low efficiency, highly polluting central heating of a building or a housing block. Besides environmental benefits of the proposed solution, obtained through shutting down the fossil fuel energy sources, paper investigates energetic efficiency of the model system, and discusses its economic justification. To achieve a full sustainability of the proposed heating system the environmental risks, especially deposition of utilized sub-geothermal water, need to be observed in detail. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.