Das Projekt "Utilization of geothermal energy ensuring sustainable environmental protection" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Geothermie und Fernwärme Fürstenfeld GmbH durchgeführt. Objective: The super ordinate aim of the present proposal of ensuring sustainable environmental protection by considerably reducing the emission of pollutants caused by fossil fuels in the municipality of Fürstenfeld. Additionally, the project is intended to demonstrate how existing heating systems based on older technologies can be economically operated with a low-temperature supply in combination with block-type thermal power stations and the appropriate type of up-to-date control technology. Economic efficiency will be ensured by multiple utilization of thermal water, i.e. energetic utilization (private heating for agricultural application, folia tunnels for heating of a modern hemp kiln) and material utilization (balnological use for a senior citizen residence for production of medicinal salts). An additional aim consists of ensuring a safe thermal energy supply for the population and of reducing the foreign trade deficit of the Community by using domestic renewable energy resources. Another super ordinate aim is the promotion of communication within the Community. This will be achieved by cooperation with EU-partners and, subsequently, by presentation of the project result within our Community. General Information: The geothermal system will be used to supply the municipality of Fürstenfeld with hot water for heating purposes. The production well Thermal II is expected to have a wellhead temperature of 75 degree C at a maximum flow of 30 l/s. The high salt content of the thermal water, however requires the use of a primary heat exchanger (titanium). The thermal water will finally be reinjected to the aquifer using a new well Fürstenfeld Thermal III. The primary heat exchanger, the long distance heating distribution network and the secondary heat exchanger (in every home) reduce the temperature that can be supplied to the final customer to a maximum of approx. 65 degree C-68 degree C. As existing heating systems were constructed for a flow temperature of 90 degree C and a return temperature of 70 degree C, block-type thermal power stations, fuelled with environmentally friendly natural gas, will be used to raise the network flow temperature to an appropriate level on extremely cold winter days, thus guaranteeing a continuous satisfactory supply of thermal energy. A peak load boiler, also fuelled with natural gas, will provide the system with a failure reserve and help to cover peak requirements. The remaining energy potential of the thermal water returning through the geothermal water pipe will be reduced even further. This aim is achieved by heating of a folia tunnels and a hemp kiln, thus increasing the difference between supply and return temperature to 40 degree C-50 degree C. The returning thermal water will additionally be subjected to material utilization. The first component of material utilization will be a senior citizen residence that will be established in Fürstenfeld and rely mostly on the thermal water and its therapeutic ...