A non-interference geothermal heating system has been activated at the Western China Science & Technology Innovation Harbour in Fengxi New City, Xixian New Area, Shaanxi Province, according to the Party Committee of Fengxi New City, China.
Six of these integrated energy supply stations will be providing heating, cooling and hot water for buildings totalling 1.59 million square m to meet the energy needs of Xi'an Jiaotong University's 25,000 researchers and 10,000 faculty members in the Innovation Harbour.
The project utilises non-interference geothermal heating technology and medium-deep geothermal energy to provide a clean heat source. Using metal conduit and a heat exchange medium, heat (but not water) is taken from deep underground (two to three km in depth) where there are stores of geothermal energy at a temperature of 70°C – 120°C.
Compared with conventional coal-fired boilers this geothermal technology can reduce CO2 emissions by 68,000 tpy and other emissions such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide by 850 tpy.