In May 2022, Cornellians will see a drill the height of McGraw Tower rise above a plot of land between the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn and Cascadilla Creek as it drills a 10,000-foot hole. The drilling is part of the Cornell University Borehole Observatory: the first stage of the University’s Earth Source Heating project, which aims to eventually use geothermal heat to provide ecologically-friendly heating to campus buildings. — The Cornell Daily Sun
Cornell’s Earth Source Heating Program, aiming to harness renewable energy in Ithaca, is part of the school’s Climate Action Plan. The goal of the initiative is for the University’s campus operations to be carbon neutral by 2035. This step of the project will first explore the feasibility and safety of the site before delivering heat to the campus.
The Borehole Observatory will allow researchers to investigate how much heat geothermal energy can provide, determine whether it will be sufficient for Cornell’s campus, and if there are any consequences to using this site.
6 Comments
I'm confused here. 10,000 ft deep hole? That sounds more like geothermal power than it is about geothermal heating and cooling. For geothermal heating & cooling, you don't necessarily need to go to those depths because you primarily will need a field area to locate the pipes for heating and cooling and use the ground source heat pumps systems so it would either heat or cool. It seems to me, that going to 10,000 ft depth, the goal is to get down to where the ground temperature is that high that water turns to steam for geothermal-powered steam-electric power plant operations. Sure, you could potentially do that for heating multiple buildings from a single 'well'.
I am leaning on this being probably for geothermal power and may also serve for heating & cooling but usually, you wouldn't necessarily need to do that with all those grass areas that they can lay in the ground 6-20 ft down and install and then put the grass back (and walking paths).
If it was me, I would put the geothermal heating & cooling under the ground under those fields like the sports fields, agriculture fields, and other green areas (where trees aren't an issue). Then it's a matter of putting the fields' surface back so it would be usable again like but those are great locations for that. There are numerous spots for that. The exact depth needed will depend on the specifics of the location.
be not confused. there is more info here: https://earthsourceheat.cornell.edu/
Ok, so instead of multiple ground-source heat pump systems (conventional geothermal heating and cooling), they are going to deeper depths much like used for geothermal power where the soil temperatures are so much different sufficient for heating several buildings at room temperature from one deep well setup that goes to a heat pump and heat exchanger system that can then heat several of these buildings at the same time.... perhaps the campus of a good chunk of it.
Ok, I get the idea they are looking at in the FAQ. In theory, it makes sense. The proof is in it actually working as planned. I wish them best on it. It sounds like an interesting idea that makes sense especially if it works.
They are already using "Lake Source Cooling" via Cayuga Lake for campus chill water. That was implemented circa 2002.
That was never well received and the increasing number of algal blooms in the inlet and lake is raising more eyebrows.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.