Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is heat stored in the bedrock, groundwater, and soil, and this heat can be used for heating and cooling purposes using a heat pump. This is environmentally friendly and represents renewable energy that can be utilized in all parts of the country for heating and cooling buildings, infrastructure, and various industrial processes.
Many sources of geothermal energy
Various technical approaches are required to utilize the energy of the bedrock, groundwater, or soil. Good knowledge of local geological conditions is crucial for choosing the best solutions for a project. A successful geothermal heating system depends on the right expertise entering projects early to assist with good planning, relevant ground investigations, and advice on how ground heating systems should be designed and operated.
NGI offers several services and can contribute to ground investigations, design, and consulting within open and closed-ground heating systems, as well as research and development of new solutions for development projects.
Expertise
NGI has relevant expertise for assessing geothermal energy:
- site investigations and online monitoring
- hydrogeological field methods and groundwater mapping
- groundwater flow and heat transport
- numerical modeling
- design and operation of open-ground heating systems that use groundwater
Research and development
NGI's research is currently focused on heat pump systems where the ground source heating system is integrated into the construction of the building. Such systems can be, for example, energy piles, energy walls, and support structures that utilize adjacent soil and groundwater as energy sources.
Sondre Gjengedal
Senior Engineer Environment and Rock Engineering sondre.gjengedal@ngi.no+47 97191567