Geothermal energy is not going to waste in these towns and villages in Hajdú-Bihar County

Heatwaves and record temperatures are coming thick and fast in our country, and at times like this it’s rather hard to imagine that it might (perhaps) get cold again. As we don’t like to sweat or feel the cold, there is a need from time to time to modernise our heating systems and methods.

According to a public procurement notice available at TED public procurement tender, work may commence on the construction of a district heating main and the development of district heating systems in three towns in Hajdú-Bihar County. In Berettyóújfalu, Létavértes and Hajdúdorog , new district heating pipelines and heating centres will be established using the available geothermal energy, which will provide heating for local authority buildings.

The new district heating networks are based on existing geothermal wells and the utilisation of waste heat generated at the thermal spa in Berettyóújfalu.

Each of the three separate public procurement contracts was awarded to TERRA-21 Közmű és Mélyépítő Kft., with the total value of the contracts amounting to 989,774,620 forints.

Five institutions in Berettyóújfalu are to receive geothermal heating

In Berettyóújfalu, for example, the waste heat from the thermal water generated at the Bihar Termálliget Spa and Beach would be utilised. Two thermal heat-recovery heat pump units, each with a capacity of 168.5 kilowatts, will be installed at the spa, and the heat generated in this way will be transmitted via a new transmission line to several local authority institutions.

A total of five local authority institutions will be connected to the system, which originates from the thermal spa:

• the Zoltán Nadányi Cultural Centre,
• the GP surgery for adults,
• the István Nyíri Entrepreneurs’ Centre,
• the Radnóti Branch of the Jenő Vass Nursery and Crèche,
• as well as the nursery attached to the above institution.

New heating substations are also being built for the system, which will contain heat exchangers, pumps, control equipment and heat meters. The heating substations will be connected to the institutions’ existing heating networks. According to the public procurement tender, these buildings currently have gas-fired heating systems.

The power lines will be laid at a depth of 0.7–2.5 metres, using directional drilling in several locations. Several utility crossings are expected during the works.

The existing geothermal well in Létavértes is being brought into operation

In Létavértes, an existing geothermal well forms the basis of the system. The well will be connected via a new district heating pipeline, and a reinjection pipeline will also be installed once the heat has been utilised. From there, the heat will be distributed to several local authority buildings. Six buildings will be connected to the system:

• the gym and library on Kassai út,
• the primary school on Irinyi Street,
• the nursery,
• the other primary school on Irinyi Street,
• as well as the two primary schools on Kassai Street.

A network of ridges stretching nearly two kilometres is being built in Hajdúdorog

The third part of the public procurement contract covers the development of Hajdúdorog. Here too, the system will be connected to the existing geothermal well; the current thermal water pipeline will be dismantled and a new section of pipeline will be constructed. Following the utilisation of the heat, the pipeline required for reinjecting the thermal water will also be completed.

The planned new district heating network comprises a 1,926-metre-long trunk pipeline . This would supply the following local authority institutions:

• the yurt,
• the Mayor’s Office,
• the nursery on Sarok Street,
• the senior citizens’ club,
• the nursery on Böszörményi út,
• the Library and Community Centre,
• as well as the adult surgery.

According to the public procurement contract, the geothermal well has a capacity of 2×310 kilowatts.

As part of the works, not only will district heating pipes be laid underground, but new heating plant units, heat exchangers, pumps and control systems will also be installed in all the institutions concerned. The systems will be interconnected via a shared GSM communications network, DDC controllers and a web-based interface.