Geothermal heating in a housing company

The price of a geothermal heating system is determined on the basis of the housing company’s specifications, such as the annual heating energy need, the required geothermal wells, the available land, and the housing company’s technical facilities. Read more about pricing here.

Geothermal heat is heat stored in the top layers of the earth and bedrock, which can be utilised in the heating of indoor spaces and service water of the housing company.

Geothermal heat with heat recovery is a solution where the heat recovery equipment installed in the extractor fans act as the heat source of the building in support of geothermal heat. When heat recovery is used in addition to geothermal heat, the various energy flows of the property can be utilised efficiently, which improves the energy efficiency of the entire building. In addition, the heat recovery system reduces the number of geothermal heat boreholes to be drilled, due to which the geothermal heating solution can also be implemented for apartment blocks standing on a smaller plot.

We offer both geothermal heating and geothermal heating with heat recovery as an investment and as a service with a monthly fee.

Read more about procurement phases.

The life cycle of a property’s heating solution is normally 20–30 years, after which the connected equipment must be replaced either in part or in full. In connection with the replacement, it is time to assess the most suitable heating solution for the housing company. If the property’s heating system has only recently been replaced, it may not be justified to change the heating method.

Always use the help of an expert to find out whether geothermal heat is suitable for your housing company. For example, Helen can carry out this survey free of charge. The most important criteria in terms of suitability are the sufficient size of the plot, the thermal properties of the bedrock, and the special characteristics of the heating in the property itself.

In the location and drilling of geothermal wells, you need to take into account the regulations of the local authority concerning the minimum distances of the well to buildings, plots and common areas. Also take into account the underground plan of the property, tunnels or various main pipelines running under the plot when assessing the suitability of the system. If geothermal wells are located in a rented plot, a written permit is required from the owner.

Inside the property, the location and size of the technical facility for the new heat pump system, the sufficient capacity of the electricity connection and electrical centres, and the options for heat recovery must be taken into account.

Geothermal heat is not suitable for all properties, and therefore the alternatives must always be assessed separately for each property. Helen offers housing companies the best heating solution for their exacting needs.

Make sure that the supplier has previous experience in delivering geothermal heat to housing co-operative sites. Also check that the supplier is a financially sound operator whose warranties will remain in force. Also find out whether the supplier is capable of offering monitoring and maintenance services for the heating solution.

Helen is a reliable energy expert with over one hundred years’ experience. We can offer you a suitable solution for the individual needs of your housing company. Our solid expertise and extensive range enable high-standard, comprehensive service throughout the year. Get in touch and together we can survey the needs of your housing company and find a suitable heating solution for you.

The correct size of the system is of utmost importance. When making the selection, it is necessary to use the property’s thermal energy need based on measurement data, as well as an estimate of hot service water consumption. The most common mistake is to choose a heat pump that is too small or to design the well field with inadequate capacity. It is both difficult and expensive to correct the error retrospectively. In the sizing of the heat pump, it is necessary to take into account the power demand of the property so that the heat pump is not sized too small or large. It is also worth checking the temperature levels of the property’s heating network as they have an impact on the selection of heat pumps. Low temperature levels are favourable to heat pumps.

The number and drilling depth of geothermal wells are calculated according to the energy demand of the site. The distance between the wells is normally 15–20 metres, which means that the wells produce a sufficient amount of energy throughout their life cycle. Safety distances to buildings must also be taken into account. The depth of the wells is usually between 200 and 400 metres.

The sizing of the system should be carried out by a professional to make sure that the system produces a sufficient amount of heat throughout its life cycle. Professional suppliers carry out a computer simulation of the amount of heat obtained from the bedrock to ensure that the well field will not cool down prematurely.

The sufficiency of the property’s electricity connection must also be ensured in connection with the sizing.

It is worth comparing the warranty periods and terms. Make sure that there is at least a two-year warranty for the entire contract and its equipment. The system parts may also have extended warranties, i.e. the heat collector circuit of the heat wells may have a 10-year warranty and heat pumps a factory warranty of up to 6 years.

Please check the following:

Has the offer taken into account the sufficient capacity of the property’s electricity connection and the need to modify the main and distribution boards, as well as their costs?

What is the amount of electricity required by the heat pump equipment and what are the total costs. Does the offer also include a new, favourably priced electricity contract?

Does the offer include obtaining the necessary permits and the removal of the old heating solution?

Does the site’s profitability calculation or offer include replacements of the compressors of geothermal heat pumps?

Does the offer include restoration of the plot to the original condition (e.g. tarmacking and replanting) and the removal of waste material?

Make sure that the offers you have received are comparable with each other, for example, in terms of the heat pump capacity and the depth of wells. It is easiest to compare the overall offers when the different equipment, work phases and responsibilities of the parties are clearly listed in them.

Significant cost factors include the price of the total contract, i.e. the investment, the cost of electricity used by the heat pumps, remote control and annual maintenance costs, and the replacement of compressors. The repayment period and the savings gained are also affected by the trend in the market prices of energy. Always compare the annual savings to the current price level, after which the prices can be compared +/-2% in each way. Also remember to take into account the housing company’s loan management fees and the total impact on maintenance charges.