Integration of Deep Geothermal Energy into the District Heating System of Eskilstuna : A Techno-Economic Study of Deep Geothermal Energy For District Heating in Eskilstuna

Sammanfattning

District heating systems are facing increasing challenges related to fuel costs, emissions and long term fuel availability. Deep geothermal energy is a potential heat source for district heating systems such as Eskiltuna’s. This study investigates how deep geothermal heat could be used in the existing district heating system in Eskilstuna by combining a simplified resource assessment with system level optimization. The results revealed that geothermal energy can reduce the use of peak and high-cost production during high demand periods. The results indicate also that geothermal energy reduces operational costs when it replaces high cost fuels such as bio-oil, while the impact on emission depends on whether fossil or biomass-based production is replaced. However, geothermal energy does not provide flexibility, which means that storage and peak production are still needed to handle variations in demand. In conclusion, the study indicates that geothermal energy could actas a complementary heat source in Eskilstuna’s district heating system under the assumptions usedin the model. But its role depends on economic conditions, available capacity, and local geological conditions. Future work should include site-specific geological data to reduce uncertainty in reservoir temperature and heat extraction potential.