The school, located 50 kilometers east of Madrid, has invested in a geothermal solution that efficiently utilizes the stable temperature of the ground. Unlike the temperature in the air, which varies greatly with the seasons, the ground at a depth of 125 meters maintains a constant temperature.
Beneath the school's grounds, 36 wells have been drilled down to a depth of 125 meters. These are connected to heat pumps installed inside the school building, which in turn circulate water through a underfloor heating and cooling system. This allows them to raise or lower the temperature as needed. Already at a depth of 15 meters, the ground temperature is stable between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius, which the system utilizes. Geothermal energy enables high energy use without being dependent on external weather conditions and adapts to the needs that exist during each season.
The geothermal system is complemented by an aerothermal system – an air-source heat pump system – powered by solar energy from solar panels on the school's roof. The combination of these technologies contributes up to 80% of the annual cooling effect and a full 100% of the heating effect required by the property. The school only needs to be connected to the electricity grid in extreme weather conditions.
To ensure that the geothermal and aerothermal solutions perform as they should, Regin's Arrigo BMS is in place to monitor various sensors in
real time.
The project has been made possible through a regional investment of 5.4 million euros and marks an important step towards more sustainable and energy-efficient solutions within the education sector in Madrid. IES Complutense school is the first of eight schools in the ambitious energy renovation plan. The plan is to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy in the education sector by at least 30%.
