Six sports clubs in Viken and Oslo have taken part in a concept study that has assessed conversion from gas firing to deep energy wells for heating artificial turf pitches.

The solution with 600 m deep, closed wells combined with a specially adapted heat pump reduces the energy consumption for heating football pitches by over 80%, which results in very low operating costs for the sports clubs.

Deep wells reduce the area required and the number of well meters compared to shallow wells, which makes it possible to establish a well park next to an existing pitch, especially where the available area is limited.

In the first instance, three of the clubs will carry out this conversion. These have applied for and been granted public investment support of 50% of the investments. Planning for the projects is underway and the aim is to get these into operation during 2024.

With a conversion from gas firing to a heat pump and electricity from the grid which is considered renewable, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 120 tons/year per pitch. There are over 200 artificial turf pitches in Norway where GTML's solution can be used.