09 Mar 2023
4th TECHNICAL WORKSHOP “GeoEnergia a Catalunya” Decarbonizing the urban heating and cooling sector in Catalonia (Barcelona, 28 March)a
The Geothermal Energy Working Group (GTG) of the Catalan Efficient Energy Cluster (CEEC), the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC), sponsor member of GEOPLAT, and the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) are organizing a new edition of the Technical Workshop “GeoEnergia a Catalonia” with the aim of promoting and generate awareness about the potential of geothermal energy as a high-efficiency energy resource in the new framework of the Energy Transition.
This year , the workshop will focus on the concept of modern 5th generation District Heating and Cooling (5GDHC) networks based on geothermal heat pumps together with other renewable sources (thermal and/or electrical) and will show the potential of their deployment in Catalonia to address the decarbonization of urban environments and meet the 2030-2050 targets. The 5GDHC networks are the most energy-efficient type of district energy systems up to date and have been deployed for years in Europe (Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, Switzerland, etc.) and the USA. A paradigm shift is needed in the thermal energy supply in Catalonia, from the present model, which is currently dominated by individual installations comprising fossil fuel fired boilers (mainly natural gas, and to a lower extent LPGs and diesel), towards a mixed model based on collective and shared installations in the form of modern, efficient and intelligent district heating and cooling networks with decentralized production.
The Workshop GeoEnergia will be held on Tuesday 28th of March at the Pompeu Fabra Auditorium at the headquarters of the Catalan Industrial Engineers Association (Via Laietana, 39, 5th floor. Barcelona) and will have an in-person format. There will be simultaneous translation service English-Catalan-English.