Groundwater-Source Geoexchange Energy Systems

Groundwater reclamation through drilling is a major source of renewable energy in most countries and particularly in regions with relatively small groundwater canals depth with high capacity, regardless of the water quality

Particularly in Greece, the method of cooling using groundwater drilling leads to 40% saving compared to conventional air-cooled systems, while it represents a technically and economically desirable solution, in cases of drilling depth reaching down to 150m.

In cooling process, groundwater basically replaces the cooling tower water and the towers are replaced with a groundwater suction well and a discharge well.
The main advantage of the stable low temperature of groundwater (ranging from 16 to 22oC) as opposed to the respective air temperature, increases the heat pump efficiency (chiller), causing the aforementioned important energy saving. Cooling system has stable efficiency levels, regardless of the air temperature fluctuation.

The investment in equipment is similar and on certain occasions more cost efficient than the one of air-cooled systems, with the exception of the water suction and return part, which requires special design and materials to ensure reliability and consists an important part of the investment.

A similar technique can be applied with the implementation of special heat pumps to produce hot water up to 60oC by utilizing stable groundwater temperature. Hot water production through shallow geothermal energy systems and the use of high efficiency heat pumps can reduce the cost up to 80%, as opposed to conventional production via petrol or gas burners.
Due to significant cost savings, shallow groundwater geothermal system applications can be technically and economically an ideal solution for industrial, residential, or greenhouse heating, even with deep wells reaching down to 300m.

SYCHEM S.A. guarantees the energy outcome of its systems, based on the specialized expertise on shallow groundwater geothermal systems, and the important experience on the hydrogeological environment at various locations in Greece gained from several installations. Experience, as well as scientific background regarding the behavior of groundwater table and the performance of energy systems with heat pumps, are essential prerequisites for a successful shallow groundwater geothermal system application and for the achievement of the maximum possible energy conservation.

SYCHEM S.A. has designed and built exceptionally reliable and technically and economically tested shallow groundwater geothermal energy cooling/heating installations with the use of groundwater wells.

Hybrid Systems

Hybrid or combined systems are systems that use combined technology and techniques to optimize energy efficiency by simultaneously performing two or more processes.

SYCHEM’shighly technological experience on different energy systems, as well as on various water management and treatment systems lead to the design and construction of innovative hybrid systems in Greece and abroad. Through the energy outcomes and reliability of these systems installed on large-scale industrial and hotel facilities, SYCHEM S.A. has become one of the most established and renowned expert in hybrid geothermal energy systems across Europe.

Indicatively, SYCHEM S.A. has undertaken the design and installation of the following types of systems:

• Hybrid shallow geothermal energy and desalination system with the use of seawater or brackish water.

• Hybrid solar power and shallow geothermal energy systems.

• Hybrid industrial cooling and shallow geothermal energy systems.

• Hybrid shallow geothermal energy and energy recovery systems.

• Combined seawater-source energy systems (HVAC, Potable water production, Hot water production, Heat recovery, Swimming pool function).

Especially designed hybrid systems for each application offer significant technical and cost benefits in the initial investment as well as in the operation and maintenance level.

The resulting energy outcomes of hybrid systems have been confirmed through measurement records and independent data analyses that have proven their exceptional energy efficiency and their impressive depreciation period (less than 5 years).

Various SYCHEM S.A. projects involving hybrid systems have repeatedly been awarded abroad, such as the seawater energy system that was specifically designed and installed at the Amathus Beach hotel in Cyprus (2010 Best Energy-Savings Investment Award by Ministry of Energy, Cyprus) and at the multi-awarded hotels of the Aldemar Group (Green Award for Excellence 2009, Leading Green Hotel Chain 2008, other energy conservation awards).