Short description
Description
Geothermal energy from floodwater in abandoned mines to provide heating and cooling at the company’s facility.
Qualitative Analysis
Description of the Process
Ropak Can Am Ltd., a manufacturer of plastic packaging products, is using geothermal energy from floodwater in abandoned mines to provide heating and cooling at the company's facility in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada. Ropak is the first industrial site in Canada to demonstrate the economic and technical viability of this energy source. Mine water at a temperature of 18C is pumped at a rate of 4 L/s from a flooded mine and passed through a heat pump system before reinjection into another separate (but linked) mine. Annual energy savings, compared to conventional systems, are approximately CAD 45,000 or the equivalent of about 600,000 kWh.