Ground Source Heat Pump, District Heating Panel Part 1 of 2

The Integral Role of Geothermal Heat Pumps in Beneficial Electrification and District Heating & Cooling Systems

Moderator: Jay Egg

Panelists:

• Industry Executive: Ryan Dougherty, Geothermal Exchange Organization
• GHP Manufacturer: Will Lange, WaterFurnace
• Eversource Executive: Peter Klint, Program Manager - Emerging Technology Energy Efficiency at Eversource Energy
• National Grid Executive: Owen Brady-Traczyk, Manager - Future of Heat
• HEET Executive: Zeyneb Magavi, Co-Executive Director at HEET

Panel Discussion Points:

• What is the fundamental function & principal of Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP)?
• How does that differ from Air Source heat pumps (ASHP)?
• What does Beneficial Electrification really mean?
• What is it about a GHP that helps with Beneficial Electrification?
• What was the problem that got HEET’s attention?
• What are the hurdles to adoption?
  • Public Perception
  • Dependence on Gas
  • Gas Company Challenges
  • Electric Grid Capacity
  • Gas cooking inside the home (favored by many consumers)
• What challenges is the Natural Gas (NG) industry facing?
  • Leaky infrastructure
  • Public opposition
  • NG Industry Term for “Impossible to replace”
  • Safety of Gas
• Is it possible to switch out gas lines for geothermal lines?
• What are the hurdles?
  • Regulatory
  • Costs
  • Right of Way
• Who will own maintain and run the geothermal district systems?
  • Public utilities
  • Coops and municipal electric utility
  • Private companies/sector
• Will NG Employees be displaced?
• Is NG Pipe similar to Geothermal Pipe?
• Can NG employees can be upskilled?
• How will homeowners that no longer have NG be able to afford a GHP?
• Can the geothermal utility provide equipment?
• Is Utility On-Bill financing (with Net Positive Cash Flow) a possibility?

Wrap up commentary from the panel:

• Moving forward with geothermal districts in communities.