Heat Beneath Your Feet
Geothermal energy makes sense for today’s greenhouses, says Dr. Mory At the Pacific Agriculture Show, Ghomshei explained to greenhouse growers that geothermal energy is a secure and sustainable source with zero emissions, making it cleaner and greener than peat, wood, coal, oil, and even natural gas.
Geothermal energy is energy harnessed from the heat within the earth which can be drawn out from hot, circulating waters and utilized for a variety of applications.
What’s more, the electricity required to run such heat-pump systems is more than offset by the extracted heat energy. As one drills deeper into the earth, costs rise but higher water temperatures are encountered, and therefore more energy can be harnessed. Dr. Mory explains that if you go deep enough, reaching waters of more than 70°, you can use a binary cycle power plant to produce both heat and electricity – there are over 100 areas in British Columbia where it is possible to get that much heat. The electricity could then be used to power the system, the rest of the greenhouse or even sold to the power grid if enough is generated.
He presented data suggesting his system would provide net annual energy savings of $115,000 with a three-to-four year payback on the investment even at today’s electricity and natural gas rates. And if those rates go up, the savings could be even greater.
“Nobody knows what the cost of natural gas will be in five years, so geothermal energy is more secure.”
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