Every geothermal project begins with a Darcy Geology Team assessment where a Professional Geologist is assigned to evaluate viability of the project. The process includes a thorough review of physical characteristics of the substrata on site, target aquifers, expected productivity, and regulatory oversight and permitting requirements given authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) in the area.
Once complete, Darcy will provide the customer a recommendation to move forward including specified technology optimal for the location and options for testing if required.
After discussing recommendations and building a plan to move forward, Darcy Engineering will assist with any further development requirements for the customer. Most commonly this entails executing a Performance Selection to provide expected thermal capacity of the recommended technology, for instance the amount of tonnage or MBH for a dipole well.
During this step getting an understanding of the load requirements of the project will allow us to estimate the total number of wells required. After estimating thermal capacity requirements, a conservative budget is produced to give customers an idea of total project costs.
The majority of geothermal projects executed by Darcy require some form of on-site diagnostics. This can range from simple geophysical analyses at surface level to in-depth drilling, pump tests, physical logging of substrata, and more. Most commonly, diagnostics are leveraged to confirm the hydrologic productivity of target aquifers at the location, as well as the subsurface geology and depths which inform subsurface construction of a specified technology.
All consulting until this point is done at no cost to customers. Diagnostics themselves are done at cost to promote geothermal project deployment. Darcy will oversee all elements of this phase and the corresponding report and presentation to customers.
After confirming the physical attributes of the site and corresponding potential for a geothermal system, final system design can ensue and proposal can ensue when the customer is ready. The project proposal will include all scopes of work covered by Darcy which are typically geothermal system construction outside the building, start up, and commissioning of said installed equipment after substantial completion.
A final proposal requires selecting the best partners with capabilities and experience in the area. The process typically takes one to two weeks to complete after giving notice to execute by our customers.
Darcy geothermal systems include various types of drilled infrastructure and installed equipment for producing thermal exchange on the exterior of a building. After completing the vertical elements of these systems, they are then laterally piped into a mechanical room where they are connected to applied HVAC equipment such as central water to water heat pumps.
Darcy oversees the entirety of work required to construct the geothermal exchange system. Applied equipment on the interior of the building is installed by a mechanical contractor not included in Darcy’s scope of work. After substantial completion Darcy will partner with mechanical contractors and temperature controls companies to complete the start up and commissioning of the system.
Investing in geothermal systems is an energy efficient approach to heating and cooling a building which can benefit customers in cost and emissions reductions for decades in the future. Unfortunately today geothermal systems are not common and facilities managers often need assistance to optimize operations.
Darcy provides all customers on site presentations to educate on best practices for operating a system and maintains a data monitoring platform used to alert owners to any requirements at a system level. In the future the company will provide proactive data management services to optimize system performance and scheduled O&M requirements as well.
Our geologists will evaluate your site and design a geothermal system built for energy efficiency, optimal total cost of ownership, and sustainability. All that is needed to start is an address or site coordinates, with no cost or obligation after assessment.
