"This is a huge leap in the utilization of geoenergy." Says Erika Salmenvaara, CEO of QHeat. The 2,008-meter heat well completed for the Korvenmäki eco-power plant is the site's second and deepest well built with QHeat technology.
"From our technology’s point of view, a 30 percent increase from a depth of 1,500 meters to 2,000 meters increases energy production by more than 60 percent in the Finnish bedrock. In warmer bedrock, the change is even greater." Says Salmenvaara.
Now, a cost-effective method to build wells has also been found. The heat well based on QHeat's unique technology was drilled with the new GM2000 drilling rig from Geomachine Oy. Rami Niemi, the founder and Chief Technology Officer of QHeat, was closely involved in the development work. He states that the achievement rewards the resources invested in the development and commissioning of the well-drilling rig.
"QHeat's technology has already been used in several coaxial geothermal wells in Finland, but sufficient and cost-effective drilling equipment has not been available before. Now we reached the target depth with Geomachine with a new drilling rig." Says Niemi.
Geothermal energy solves climate challenges internationally
"The heat storage project delivered for Lounavoima also serves as a good reference for the international market."
With more cost-efficient technology, QHeat is now looking at the international market. Currently, patents for QHeat's unique coaxial geothermal technology are pending and have already been approved in several countries, including Canada. QHeat's team is currently consulting on a geothermal project in Estonia. The drilling contractor in the project is QHeat's partner Engineering Bureau STEIGER.
In Finland, QHeat will immediately start drilling the third heat well at Lounavoima's Waste-to-Energy plant. In the summer of 2021, the first well was drilled to a depth of 1,600 meters. The water circulation and heat storage in the soil of the well designed as waste heat storage has been tested for more than a year now, and the well is scheduled to be put into production use this winter.
A heat storage of six geothermal wells in total is planned for the Lounavoima eco power plant. The wells can store up to 10 GWh of thermal energy, equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 500 detached houses. The thermal wells implemented for the Lounavoima eco power plant are the world's first geothermal wells built in connection with a Waste-to-Energy power plant.
"The heat storage project delivered for Lounavoima also serves as a good reference for the international market." Summarizes Salmenvaara.
Read more: Lounavoima uses QHeat's thermal heat well energy to store waste energyA 2000-metre deep geothermal well has been completed at Lounavoima's waste-to-energy plant
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