The current economic context puts pressure on companies to shift from conventional fossil to renewable energy sources. It is not only the multiplied price of energy that stresses the need for more sustainable energy solutions, but also the need for secure and independent energy supply.
So far, the answer to such an open challenge was unambiguous, creating a mostly one-way funnel for companies.
Solar energy device and installation prices have plunged in the last decades, they provide easy installation, mostly without interference with production processes, they require little time to plan and install, and they are welcome by grant schemes as a result of clear justification, invoicing and audit opportunities. Lots of advantages, minimal drawbacks, but with a few pre-conditions (area, angle, surface).
With the narrowing opportunities to connect large-scale solar power plant to the grid, and with the recent change in the regulatory context, this situation has changed significantly. The reasons are not only the bottlenecks of the power grid. Though it was not originally designed to serve multiple power sources and their balancing and peak-shaving, this is the part where developments at DSOs have already started to create new opportunities for connection – in a couple of years’ time.
Wind has been dead in Hungary since the early 2000s. The regulation does not explicitly prohibit wind energy production, but it defines parameters that no area in Hungary may currently match. As a result, wind is not a viable solution from a purely regulatory perspective.
However, if a company is looking for a more stable way to supply its mid-to-large scale heat volume requirements, then geothermal energy production is clearly an opportunity. Not for anyone, that is for sure.
The first step is a thorough assessment of the local geothermal potential of the plant site and its close vicinity. Such an assessment sheds light to the geothermal heat (in some cases, also power) generation opportunities and parameters, that a geothermal well may supply. The calculations in such a preliminary feasibility study are reliable to provide a green light to move forward, through more observations and exploration (test drilling), or to stop the process.
We, at DevEco, have had the opportunity to provide such preliminary assessment on geothermal potential to plant sites of world-class manufacturers and also for areas offered for FDI in cooperation with HIPA. We have the knowledge and the skills with our partners to tell you, if it is worth exploring geothermal opportunities at a given site.
Geothermal is gaining space and impetus as the race begins for harnessing sustainable energy production opportunities. Is it an opportunity for you? We are ready to tell you.
— The DevEco Consulting Team
(photo: mannvit.com)