Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System
Hidden beneath the 7,500 square-metre quad at the centre of our university’s complex is Canada’s largest geothermal system. The geothermal well field is the central component in the 1,500-ton Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System. Drilling was completed in November 2003 and involved three rigs, each drilling one hole per day over a span of over 100 days.
Three hundred and eighty-four holes, each 213 metres (700 feet) deep, provide the basis for a highly efficient and environmentally friendly heating and cooling system, capable of regulating the north Oshawa campus location buildings.
A glycol solution, encased in polyethylene tubing, circulates through an interconnected, underground network. During the winter, fluid circulating through tubing extended into the wells collects heat from the earth and carries it into the buildings. The system reverses in the summer to pull heat from the building and place it in the ground.
The geothermal site provides the distinct opportunity to the university’s engineering faculty for use as an invaluable research lab. The facility not only helps to significantly reduce energy consumption, but can also provide extensive research opportunities and enhance the educational experience for students in energy-related programs.
