Volts Trying to bring geothermal heat pumps to scale
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May 9, 2025 Kathy Hannun, President and co-founder of Dandelion Energy, discusses the innovative world of geothermal heat pumps, which offer double the efficiency of traditional heating methods. She shares insights on their unique drilling technology and a groundbreaking partnership in Colorado aimed at making geothermal systems more affordable. The conversation delves into installation challenges, potential cost-saving strategies, and the importance of integrating these solutions into urban planning for enhanced grid stability and sustainability.
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Efficiency of Ground-Source Heat Pumps
- Ground-source heat pumps are about twice as efficient as air-source heat pumps.
- They represent the most efficient way available to heat and cool buildings.
Colorado Builder's Incentive Story
- Colorado builders like Lennar are motivated by new local laws and incentives to avoid gas infrastructure costs.
- Lennar found geothermal heat pumps could be more cost-effective upfront thanks to these incentives.
Scale Cuts Installation Costs
- Large-scale geothermal installations reduce costs through shared drilling resources and equipment.
- Amortize fixed costs by installing many systems close together for better economics.