The geothermal probes located between the brackets for photovoltaic panels at the Krones Hungary site (source: Krones)The installation of the photovoltaic system and the first phase of the geothermal system is expected to be completed by the of 2023. The entire project is then scheduled to be finalized by 2024, and the Debrecen plant is expected to run independently of gas by the end of the same year. When completed, the Debrecen site will be the first net-zero plant in the Krones Group.
The factory in Debrecen currently operates two 1-MW gas boilers which supplies the heating systems of the entire production facility. To provide an alternative source for the facility’s heating and cooling needs, a geothermal probe system complemented by three heat pumps will be installed.
Design of the hybrid solar-geothermal system
The heat pump operations will increase the electricity requirement of the facility, but this will be covered by 100% green electricity. The installation of more than 2700 photovoltaic panels measure 1 x 2 meters each had already started in August. The geothermal probe system will be located directly under the panels to reduce the land use of the project.
Test drilling to a depth of 120 meters had already been done at the site, which provided the data needed to design the geothermal and heat pump system. Modeling results indicated that a total of 204 probes each to 120 meters depth will be needed to supply the heating and cooling requirements of the facility.
The heat collected from the probes will supplied to the factory halls for the heating and cooling mechanism used in assembly, manufacturing, and logistics. Real-time metrics, as part of the building management system, allow for the digital maintenance and control of the system.
According to calculations, the photovoltaic system can supply 30% to 40% of the electricity needs of the Krones Hungary facility, with the balance purchased as green energy. However, upon project completion, the geothermal facility will be able supply 100% of the heating and cooling needs of the facility.
