My background is energy engineering and sciences. My idea is prerequisited on favorable geothermal conditions, which is actually common place, and allowances by government.
Location: United States
Base activity: Property development in unincorporated areas, at a scale of no less than 40 homes.
Secondary: Sell thermal energy to homeowners as replacement for gas lines, using central heating in the form of geothermal boreholes, transmission of thermal energy with oil pipes, heat exchangers in homes, charged at hook-up, as private company.
The basic idea is to develop property with geothermal boreholes, drilled down to 300 meters, throughout the area. Thermal energy can be extracted by a central heating unit, and transmitted to homes with oil filled pipes. Homes will be built with a heat pump and exchanger, to provide heating. This thermal energy is sold by the company which owns the boreholes, lines, and hookups. The developers own the company. Costs are recovered by selling heat for decades to home owners.
Why it could be profitable?
As the scale goes up, heat pumps become more efficient, and cost effective. The boreholes can become thermal batteries during the summer, transmitting heat into the ground, to be recovered during the winter. Brick blocks, 4x4x4 meters, can be used to create instantaneous capacity for heating. Geothermal energy halves heating bills for individual homeowners in cold climates compared to gas and forced air. At a larger scale, costs go down. Cost of development goes down per hole and line when projects are for many holes. Heat pumps are cheaper per kWh at larger scales, and COP goes up.
Selling thermal energy over a longer period at a rate competitive to the market is a steady income. Heating is always in demand. The demand is insensitive to changes in costs. Building the property with hookups to central heating instead of gas lines ensures a customer base.
Possible limitations?
Local and state governments may object to the creation of a new utility. Homeowners may not want to pay for the additional costs of the system, or pay less because of the lack of gas hook-up.
Homeowners may not like the idea of having boreholes or lines they cannot touch or own.
Possible ways to get around the limitations.
Macroeconomic activity in producing something of value locally increases the local GDP. The municipal government may be convinced producing energy locally instead of paying to import energy is beneficial to the local economy. The central heating unit creates jobs. Tax revenue goes up.
Homeowners may not be willing to foot the bill upfront, but the investment pays off in selling them thermal energy. The federal government also provides grants for clean energy projects.
Easements will allow for boreholes and lines.
Questions I already have.
What would the impact be on property value?
Turn around time for investment?
What would the ROA look like?
What regulations would regulate this?
submitted by /u/Smedskjaer
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