Hungary’s exemplary geothermal district heating network is to be expanded

Bóly is considered a pioneer in the use of geothermal energy in small Hungarian settlements: over the past two decades, the town has implemented one of Hungary’s most successful, phased local district heating systems. The local council began the first drilling within the town in 2004, and the town utilised the 42-degree water found there for heating; however, the major breakthrough came in 2007: further drilling was carried out in a field to the west of the town, where thermal water at 80 °C gushed forth. This enabled them to build a geothermal system which has since developed into a complex sub-regional/industrial energy supply network. After cooling, the extracted water is pumped back into the ground via a closed system, ensuring that the water supply is not depleted and that thermal pollution of the environment is kept to a minimum.

Demand is constantly growing

The town has thus drastically reduced its dependence on natural gas, which ensures outstanding energy security for both the local authority and the businesses connected to the network. It is therefore no coincidence that new companies moving into the industrial park are specifically choosing the town because of the geothermal connection options – which is why the town hall is constantly working to expand capacity. 

According to the latest public procurement notice states that a contractor is now being sought for the construction of five new thermal heating centres and thermal connection pipelines in two separate tender rounds.

The successful tenderer, BACHESZ és TÁRSAI Épületgépész Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft. , will be responsible for connecting the heating centres to the thermal transmission pipeline, as well as for the design and control of the primary (thermal) side of the heating centres, and for the construction of the thermal connection pipeline. The development, to be carried out at a cost of approximately 38 million forints, will provide a new or upgraded network for a production hall, an egg-production facility, a student hall of residence, an office building and the town’s health centre.

New heating plants are needed

The contractor must fit out a plant room on the ground floor of the social facilities section of the production hall at 8 Töttösi út.

The Prophyl Kft. SPF egg-production site currently comprises a central building and two poultry houses. The site is due to be expanded with a further three poultry houses and an egg-processing plant; consequently, a heating plant must be constructed on the northern boundary of the property, to be supplied by a pair of thermal pipelines. As part of a previous investment, a thermal utility pipeline has already been laid on the neighbouring property, to which SPF will also be connected. The intention is to supply heating to both the existing and planned buildings from this new plant.

The district heating system for the hall of residence building may also be expanded. The hall of residence, canteen and kitchen, and sports hall at the Hunyadi Street facility are currently heated by a geothermal system; however, the time has come to replace the outdated heating plant, which has been refurbished several times. Once the old heating plant has been demolished, the new one will supply heating not only to the aforementioned buildings but also to the planned, newly constructed service building. The new heating plant can be built within the existing premises that are to be retained.

An office block on Rákóczi Ferenc Street is set to be connected to the network. There is already a plant room on the ground floor of this building, which will house the new thermal heating centre. The building’s existing central heating system and gas boilers will remain in place; the new heating centre will supply this system.

The building complex of the Bóly Health Centre (Szabadság Street) is to be redeveloped: some parts will be demolished, but the buildings housing the out-of-hours medical service and the surgery will remain. These two buildings will also undergo refurbishment, and their functions will change. Although the buildings are currently heated by a geothermal system, its heating plant will be demolished during the refurbishment. The new plant room, housing the state-of-the-art heating plant, will be located on the ground floor of the new wing.

Cable laying is also part of the contract

The new Health Centre’s thermal supply pipeline will be constructed from the branches off the Szabadság út thermal trunk lines to the new heating substation, over a length of approximately 30 metres. Key details of the new thermal supply pipeline:

• You will need one supply cable, one intermediate cable and one return cable.
• nominal temperature: 80°C
• operating pressure: max. 6 bar
• installation method: laid in the ground
• Pipe material: glass-fibre-reinforced PP-R pipe, housed in a KPE casing with PUR foam insulation on the supply and intermediate pipes, and the same pipe without thermal insulation on the return pipe.