Examination of the Suitability of Industries for the Integration of Geothermal Energy and Cascading Utilisation of Heat Using the Example of Gmunden

Abstract: The energy demand of industry accounts in Austria for around 30 % of final energy demand, with process heat demand being the largest share of industrial energy consumption. In order to successfully decarbonise the industry, geothermal energy with its diverse possibilities such as heating, cooling, power generation and storage must also be integrated into industrial processes.As part of the CASCADE project, industrial plants in the Gmunden region are being analysed for their suitability for the potential supply for geothermal energy. The Gmunden dairy is the main focus of the investigations. Analyses of measurement data from the various processes will provide information on necessary temperature levels, energy quantities and changes in energy requirements over time. The work also focuses on the excess heat potential of industrial and trade companies. At the Gmunden dairy, all relevant excess heat flows are analysed in order to assess the potential for further cascading use in the district heating network or in other companies. For all other companies the top-down approach via specific key numbers is applied to determine the excess heat streams.