GT Energy Plans Geothermal Power in Ballymena, Northern Ireland

---

Researched by Protel Associates Limited in alliance with Industrial Info Europe (Galway, Ireland)--GT Energy (Rathcoole, Ireland) has formed a strategic alliance with Ballymena Borough Council in Northern Ireland to develop the first of several district geothermal heating systems at Ballymena's Ecos Centre.

Ballymena is situated above a subterranean hot spot that contains boiling water. The plan is to create two 3-kilometer boreholes that will enable the hot water to be released for use in a steam-powered electrical generator and for district heating. The system is also likely to contain biomass-fed boilers to provide additional capacity during peak demand and for use as a standby. An energy audit of the approximately £1.5 million project will begin during the fourth quarter of 2009 to establish the route and demand for the district heating system. Drilling is likely to begin in the third quarter of 2010, with the first elements of the system becoming operational in the third quarter of 2011.

The project scope will include: heat exchangers, pumps, pipe work, valves, a water treatment plant, control and instrumentation, a steam generator, biomass boilers, and industrial buildings.

Protel Associates is the leading provider of sales intelligence for equipment and service suppliers to the U.K. & Ireland Process Industries with particular emphasis on the Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Chemical and Food & Beverage sectors. Protel's information is researched, validated and confirmed by a highly skilled and experienced team to provide intelligence that is not otherwise available in the public domain.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.