A type of direct use in which a utility system supplies multiple users with hot water or steam from a central plant or well field through a distribution network.

The Earth's interior heat is made available to humanity by extracting it from hot water or rocks. This is the “heat beneath our feet,” or heat that flows continuously from the Earth’s interior to the surface. This heat has been radiating from the earth’s core for about 4.5 billion years.

The rate of temperature increases on the Earth as a function of depth. Temperature increases an average of 1° Fahrenheit for every 75 feet in descent.

Mature technologies that use the constant temperature of the shallow earth (40–70°F) to provide heating and cooling solutions to buildings wherever the ground can be cost-effectively accessed to depths below seasonal temperature variations. Geothermal heat pumps increase the efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of heating and cooling systems in residential and commercial buildings. They are currently deployed across all 50 states, and the market is growing as their value becomes better understood.

Ground source heat pumps use the ambient temperature of the ground (~55 degrees Fahrenheit) resulting in improved efficiency up to 5x or more than ASHP!

Geothermal Heat Pumps use the constant heat of the earth to heat and cool buildings. These heat pumps emit no greenhouse gasses because they are transferring heat from earth to home.

This heating source can be used in all seasons of the year! It can do this by storing the heat from the summer months.

Air source heat pumps use the refrigeration system consisting of a compressor and two copper aluminum coils (one inside and one outside) which have aluminum to aid in the heat transfer process.

A device for transferring thermal energy from one fluid to another.

Building that are connected by a large geo-exchange system are known as thermal energy networks

Industrial heat pumps are a class of active heat-recovery equipment that allows the temperature of a waste-heat stream to be increased to a higher and more useful temperature. Colorado currently has an industrial tax credit to help facilities make improvements as well as perform studies that could include installing an industrial heat pump. Check out the Colorado Industrial Tax Credit Offering | Colorado Energy Office website for more information.

These technologies How these technologies can be used as a battery for your property

• Geothermal Resources 
• CGS Publication

HEET is a nonprofit with a mission to drive systems change through an ethical and efficient thermal energy transition. They believe in an affordable, equitable transition to clean energy that meets the needs of all, from low-income communities to gas utility workers to future generations.

https://www.heet.org/ 

Geothermal Rising is a nonprofit organization, serving as a professional and educational association for the geothermal community and public.

https://geothermal.org/

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is a non-profit, member-driven organization established in 1987 to advance ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology on local, state, national and international levels.

https://igshpa.org/

The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) is harnessing the power of coalition to forge paths for effective upgrades that power homes and buildings with clean electricity. They align people, corporations, and politicians at every level to join in building decarbonization and build a sustainable future.

https://buildingdecarb.org/initiatives/tens

Vermont Community Thermal Energy Networks offer a New toolkit that demonstrates how communities can take neighborhood-scale decarbonization into their own hands

https://www.vctn.org/toolkit

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the construction, operation, permitting, and closure of injection wells used to place fluids underground for storage or disposal

• EPA’s regulations define Class V wells as injection wells not included in other well classes. As a result, in addition to shallow wells, the Class V well category includes deep complex wells used at commercial and industrial facilities, including geothermal electric power wells.

• EPA Region 8 serves Colorado and Tribal Nations

• EPA Fact Sheet for Geothermal Direct Heat Return Flow Wells

• EPA Fact Sheet for Heat Pump/Air Conditioning Return Flow Wells

• The BLM has the delegated authority for leasing public lands - including U.S. Forest Service lands - with geothermal potential in 11 Western states and Alaska. The public, usually industry representatives, nominates the lands they wish to lease. If the lands are found to be suitable and leasing is in compliance with the Resource Management Plan for the area, the lands are offered competitively in a lease sale auction.

• https://www.blm.gov/colorado

In 1070, the U.S. passed the Geothermal Steam Act; this allowed for the leasing of land containing geothermal resources; however, Congress excluded any lands within the National Park System, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service lands, and any other lands prohibited from leasing by the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administrates the Act, issuing distinct authorizations for the exploration, development, production, and closeout of a geothermal resource. 

For more information: 

According to the Division of Water Resources’ (DWR’s) Geothermal Rules, a “geothermal well” is constructed for the purpose of geothermal exploration, use of a geothermal resource, or reinjection of a geothermal fluid. Different types of geothermal wells have different permitting or certified installer requirements as summarized below.

“Geoexchange systems”, which are also known as geothermal loop systems or ground-source heat pumps, consist of buried pipe in a closed loop, which transfers heat to or from the earth for heating and/or cooling purposes. Geoexchange systems do not require a site-specific permit for construction or operation, but prior to construction, installers of geoexchange systems must obtain certification and an annual permit from the State Engineer (see forms GX-02 and GWS-72) and the Geothermal Rules for more information.

• Click here to link to view a list of certified and permitted geoexchange system installers

Permitting for geothermal wells may require permits from both DWR and the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (“ECMC”). The two agencies are part of the Department of Natural Resources and will work together with applicants for a coordinated well permitting process.

Use Permits are issued by DWR for the use of groundwater (per section 37-90.5-107 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, hereinafter “C.R.S.”) with a focus on ensuring water use is compliant with Colorado water law. Operations Permits are issued either by DWR or ECMC, depending on the depth and type of groundwater involved (per section 37-90.5-106, C.R.S.). ECMC issues Operations Permits for all geothermal wells greater than 2,500 feet in depth and all geothermal wells using Allocated Geothermal Resources. Allocated Geothermal Resource means any geothermal resource associated with nontributary groundwater, excluding groundwater in the Denver Basin aquifers. In situations that do not qualify for an Operations Permit from ECMC, DWR will issue the Operations Permit and Use Permit together, and ECMC need not be involved.

The General-Purpose Water Well Permit Application, currently Form GWS-45, is used to apply to DWR for Use and/or Operations Permits. Refer to the 2-page guide titled, Steps for Applying for Type A or B Geothermal Well Permit and to the Geothermal Rules for more information.

Questions can be submitted to Ask DWR by using the following link, Geothermal Wells & Geoexchange Systems