Economic Performance Indicators for a Geothermal Aquatic Center in Victoria, Australia

The Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) opened in the town of Traralgon, Victoria, Australia early in 2021. The GRAC utilizes a geothermal energy heating system as an alternative to conventional natural gas furnaces. We have examined 12 full months of heat production from the geothermal system...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies 2023, Vol.16 (5)
Main Authors: Fu, Boxiang, Beardsmore, Graeme, Webster, Rachel
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Energy use
Environmental aspects
Heating, cooling and ventilation
Natural gas
Sports facilities
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Summary:The Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) opened in the town of Traralgon, Victoria, Australia early in 2021. The GRAC utilizes a geothermal energy heating system as an alternative to conventional natural gas furnaces. We have examined 12 full months of heat production from the geothermal system of the GRAC and compared its economic performance against equivalent heat production by natural gas. The geothermal system—the first of its kind in Victoria—operated at >95% availability over its first year of operation. Our economic assessment indicates that the breakeven price for the geothermal energy is about 35% the equivalent price of natural gas and the payback period for the geothermal system is about five years. The results justify the initial capital outlay by Latrobe City Council and are likely to stimulate further development of geothermal heat systems in the region.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en16052134