RENEWABLE ENERGY TODAY
A Daily News Summary Covering Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies
Monday, August 17, 1998

Hardin Announces Patents on Geothermal System

Hardin Geotechnologies last week announced it has won patents on an innovative system that allows water utilities to safely and efficiently tap their networks for geothermal energy and compete with gas and electric companies selling power to local consumers.

The product, called the geothermal utility return line or GURLsystem, is touted by Hardin as a breakthrough resolution to capacity and water-contamination problems that have plagued these systems in the past. Among other features, it uses a simple, large-volume configuration that can send tainted water to a pre-treatment stage before returning it to the water facility.

Hardin has already sold the system to one district, the Comanche City Utility Division and public school system in Oklahoma. Construction began there in June on a GURL heating and cooling system that is expected to save the district 20 to 40 percent on energy bills and provide the lowest operating costs of any school system in the state.

Beyond the increased capacity and water-return safety features, Hardin says its GURLsystem needs little maintenance, can be expanded and reduced easily, and reduces start-up costs by eliminating the need for geothermal wells, boilers, and cooling towers.

(HARDIN RELEASE: 8/12)

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