A new project aimed at utilizing methane extracted alongside thermal water from nine geothermal wells has been launched in Szeged (southern Hungary), under the Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Programme, Geo Hőterm Kft., the project’s developer, announced on Tuesday.
According to the company’s statement, the goal is to capture and use methane gas—brought to the surface with thermal water from wells supplying the city’s district heating system—for energy production by burning it in gas boilers.
As part of the project, gas separation units will be installed at all nine geothermal production wells connected to Szeged’s district heating network. The extracted and purified methane will then be used in modern, process-controlled gas boilers equipped with advanced burner technology.
Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the project will also enhance the efficiency of Szeged’s geothermal district heating by increasing the temperature of the heating water with the heat generated from burning the methane.
Preliminary estimates suggest the initiative could replace approximately 1.8 million cubic meters of natural gas annually, delivering 54,000 gigajoules of renewable energy. This would cut Szeged’s greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 27,534 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
The total eligible cost of the project is HUF 2 billion (cc. EUR 5.1 million), of which HUF 776 million (cc. EUR 2 million) is covered by Swiss funding, HUF 137 million (cc. EUR 347.000 ) comes from national co-financing, and the remaining amount is self-funded.
Via MTI; Featured image: Pixabay
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