Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Alice Rush

The HVAC requirements of commercial buildings are as diverse as their shapes and sizes. However, despite the size, several needs are met daily, such as ensuring that workplaces are comfortable and efficient.

Commercial geothermal systems provide more efficient heating and cooling than others. Geothermal systems with variable refrigerant flow or variable air volume allow for even greater energy and operational cost savings.

What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is heat that comes from the Earth. The word “geothermal” combines “geo” (which means earth) and “thermal” (which means heat).

Geothermal resources are placed underground where there is hot water. They can be natural or made by humans and are found at different depths and temperatures beneath the Earth’s surface.

Wells, holes drilled into the ground ranging from a few feet to several miles deep, can access this hot water and steam.

We can bring this hot water and steam up to the surface and use it in different ways:

Electricity Generation:

Deep underground, hot rocks and fluids, along with their ability to move through rocks, can generate electricity. Fluid flows through these hot rocks, absorbing their heat. This heat is then used to create steam that powers turbines to produce electricity.

Heating and Cooling:

Geothermal resources can heat and cool buildings. Geothermal heat pumps can transfer heat between the ground and buildings, providing warmth when it’s cold and cooling when it’s hot outside. This method can also be used on a larger scale to heat and cool parts of commercial buildings or entire communities.

Direct Use:

Deeper wells can draw water directly underground to heat buildings, spaces, or industrial processes like fish farming, greenhouses, or drying materials like pulp and lumber.

Geothermal energy is a renewable and sustainable source of power that can be used in many ways to generate electricity and provide heating and cooling without relying on fossil fuels.

What is a Geothermal Heat Pump?

A geothermal heat pump is a system that moves heat using electricity. It works like air conditioners or refrigerators. The unique thing about geothermal heat pumps is that they use the consistent temperature below the Earth’s surface to heat or cool buildings.

About 30 feet underground, temperatures stay pretty much the same all year—around 50 °F (10 °C) to 59 °F (15 °C). In Australia, the ground is usually warmer than winter and cooler than summer.

Geothermal heat pumps use this steady underground temperature to heat homes during winter and cool them during summer efficiently. They transfer heat between the ground and buildings to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.

What is in a Geothermal Heat Pump System?

An underground heat collector: A geothermal heat pump uses the earth as a heat source and sink (thermal storage), using a series of connected pipes buried near a building. The loop can be buried either vertically or horizontally.

It circulates a fluid that absorbs or deposits heat to the surrounding soil, depending on whether the ambient (outside) air is colder or warmer than the soil.

A heat pump: When ambient temperatures are colder than the ground, a geothermal heat pump removes heat from the collector’s fluids, concentrates it, and transfers it to the building.

When ambient temperatures are warmer than the ground, the heat pump removes heat from the building and deposits it underground.

A heat distribution subsystem: Conventional ductwork distributes heated or cooled air from the geothermal heat pump throughout the building.

Where Can Geothermal Heat Pumps Be Used?

GHPs could be:

They are used to heating and cooling a single house, one business, or an entire community (college campus, neighborhood, etc.).
Implemented as part of new construction or retroactively added to existing buildings
They are installed in urban or rural areas.

Some systems can supply hot water to homes and businesses.

Is A Geothermal Heat Pump The Same As an Air-source Heat Pump?

No, geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) differ from air-source heat pump hot water systems. GHP systems exchange heat from the earth, whereas air-source heat pumps exchange heat from the atmosphere.

Geothermal systems have been shown to be quieter, last longer, and require less maintenance than air-source systems.

They are also unaffected by the outside air temperature. Geothermal systems are typically more expensive than air-source systems, but energy savings often offset the extra costs.

For the best air-sourced heat pump, contact Cyanergy and go to our commercial heat pump page.

Advantages of Geothermal Energy

Renewable: The heat inside the Earth keeps renewing due to the natural breakdown of radioactive materials. This renewable energy source will continue to be available for billions of years.
Reliable and Adaptable: Geothermal power plants consistently produce electricity and can operate non-stop, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, regardless of weather conditions. They can also adjust their electricity production to match changes in demand.
Local: In Australia, we can use our own geothermal resources to generate power and heat and cool without needing to import fuel from elsewhere.
Takes Up Little Space: Geothermal power plants and heat pumps are compact. They use much less land per gigawatt-hour than coal, wind, or solar panel power stations. Geothermal heat pumps can easily be added to existing buildings or incorporated into new construction.

5. Environmentally Friendly: Modern geothermal power plants don’t produce greenhouse gases and have significantly lower lifecycle emissions than solar PV and natural gas technologies. They also use less water over their lifespan than most traditional electricity generation methods.

Geothermal Systems To Boost Energy Efficiency In Commercial Buildings

Using a sizeable geothermal heat pump in a big building is becoming more popular, and it’s clear why. These pumps are suitable for the environment, they give reliable and comfortable heating, and they can save money on operating costs for many years.

Here’s how a geothermal heat pump works in a big building:

It moves heat from one place to another using a refrigeration process. In a commercial building, a set of heat pumps takes heat from a renewable energy source in the ground.

The heat pump boosts the temperature of this low-grade heat and transfers it to the building’s heating system (often using radiant in-floor heating or hydronic fan coils) through a heat exchanger.

In the summer, this process is reversed. The heat pumps take heat from inside the building and release it into the ground, providing cooling.

Boost Your Efficiency with Simultaneous Heating and Cooling

Geothermal heat pumps are super efficient and the best heating and cooling option. Instead of creating heat from oil, gas, or electricity, they move it around. For instance, electric heating systems produce 1 watt of heat for every watt of electricity used.

Geothermal heat pumps, though, move 4.1 watts of heat for every watt of electricity. This high efficiency (or coefficient of performance, COP) of 4.1 means huge savings on your bills.

Simultaneous heating and cooling is a smart way to double your COP from 4.1 to 8.2, cutting your costs even more. Here’s how it works:

Multiple heat pumps are linked together between hot and cold tanks. The hot tank sends heat to heating areas, while the cold tank cools the cooling zones.

When the system runs, heat pumps take heat from the cold tank and move it, along with compressor energy, to the hot tank. This warms the cold tank and cools the hot tank.

If the heating and cooling needs are balanced, the system doesn’t need extra energy from the ground loop. But most of the time, there’s an imbalance. In that case, the fluid circulating in the system goes to the ground loop to add or remove energy to balance things out.

This system can heat and cool simultaneously with a hot and cold tank. For example, one two-ton heat pump can cool and heat, giving you four tons of comfort while only using the power of one two-ton unit.

This setup is perfect if your building requires heating on one side and cooling on the other. It’s much more efficient than a regular heat pump system because both sides of the pump are working to save you money.

Your Solution Is Just a Click Away

The post Geothermal Systems To Boost Energy Efficiency In Commercial Buildings appeared first on Cyanergy.

Geothermal Systems To Boost Energy Efficiency In Commercial Buildings

Renewable Energy

US Offshore Wind Restarts After Court Injunctions

Published

18 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Alice Rush

Weather Guard Lightning Tech

US Offshore Wind Restarts After Court Injunctions

Allen covers four US offshore wind projects winning injunctions to resume construction, including major updates from Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia project. Plus Ming Yang’s proposed UK manufacturing facility faces security review delays, Seaway 7 lands the Gennaker contract in Germany, and Taiwan’s Fengmiao project hits a milestone.

Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!

Happy Monday everyone!

Four offshore wind projects have secured preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration’s stop-work order.

Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.

Avangrid’s Vineyard Wind 1.

Equinor’s Empire Wind.

And Ørsted’s Revolution Wind.

All four argued they were at critical stages of construction.

The courts agreed.

Work has resumed.

A fifth project… Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind… has a hearing scheduled for today.

Now… within days of getting back to work… milestones are being reached.

Dominion Energy reported seventy-one percent completion on Coastal Virginia.

The first turbine… installed in January.

The Charybdis… America’s only U.S.-flagged wind turbine installation vessel… is finally at work. Fifty-four towers, thirty nacelles, and twenty-six blade sets now staged at Portsmouth Marine Terminal. The third offshore substation has arrived.

But here is where the numbers tell the real story.

The month-long delay fighting the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management?

Two hundred twenty-eight million dollars.

New tariffs?

Another five hundred eighty million.

The project budget now stands at eleven-point-five billion dollars.

Nine-point-three billion already invested by end of 2025.

Dominion and partner Stonepeak are sharing the cost.

Dominion insists offshore wind remains the fastest and most economical way to deliver nearly three gigawatts to Virginia’s grid.

A grid that powers military installations… naval shipbuilding… and America’s growing AI and cyber capabilities.

First power expected this quarter.

Full completion… now pushed to early 2027.

Up in New England… Vineyard Wind 1 also resumed work.

The sixty-second and final turbine tower shipped from New Bedford this week.

Ten blade sets remain at the staging site.

The installation vessel is scheduled to depart by end of March.

The turbines are going up.

But eight hundred eight million dollars in delays and tariffs…

That is a price the entire industry is watching.

═══ Scotland Waits on Ming Yang Decision ═══

In Scotland… a decision that could reshape European supply chains… hangs in the balance.

Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang wants to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility.

The site… Ardersier… near Inverness. The investment… one-point-five billion pounds.

The jobs… fifteen hundred.

Trade Minister Chris Bryant says the government must weigh security.

Critical national infrastructure must be safe and secure.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is losing patience.

He told reporters this week the decision has taken too long.

He called it pivotal to Scotland’s renewable energy potential…

and a crucial component of the nation’s just transition.

Meanwhile… Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.

He spoke of building a more sophisticated relationship between the two nations.

Whisky tariffs… halved to five percent.

Wind turbine factories?

Still under review.

Bryant says they want a steady, eyes-wide-open relationship with China.

Drive up trade where possible.

Challenge where necessary.

But no flip-flopping.

For now… Scotland waits.

And so does the UK supply chain.

═══ Seaway 7 Lands Gennaker Contract ═══

In the German Baltic Sea… a major contract award.

Seaway 7, part of the Subsea 7 Group, will transport and install sixty-three monopiles and transition pieces for the Gennaker offshore wind farm.

The contract value… one hundred fifty to three hundred million dollars.

Subsea 7 calls it substantial.

The client is Skyborn Renewables… a portfolio company of BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners.

Nine hundred seventy-six megawatts of capacity.

Sixty-three Siemens Gamesa turbines.

Four terawatt-hours of annual generation.

Enough to power roughly one million German homes.

Seaway 7’s work begins next year.

═══ Taiwan’s Fengmiao Hits Milestone ═══

In Taiwan… Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners completed the first batch of jacket foundations for the Fengmiao offshore wind farm.

Five hundred megawatts.

On schedule for late 2027 completion.

Offshore installation begins later this year.

The jackets were built by Century Wind Power… a local Taiwanese supplier.

CIP called it a sign of strong execution capabilities and proof they can deliver large-scale, complex energy projects.

But they are not stopping there.

Fengmiao 2… six hundred megawatts… is already in development.

Taiwan is aiming for a major boost in large-scale renewable energy by 2030.

And that is the state of the wind industry for February 2, 2026

Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

US Offshore Wind Restarts After Court Injunctions

Renewable Energy

How Is U.S. Insanity Affecting Tourism?

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Alice Rush

It’s probably a bit too soon to have useable statistics on this subject, but it’s certainly not too early to apply some common sense.

There are at two factors at play here:

1) America is broadly regarded as a rogue country. Do you want to visit North Korea? Do Canadians want to spend money in a country that wants to annex them?

2) America is now understood to be unsafe. Do you want to visit Palestine? Ukraine? Iran?

How Is U.S. Insanity Affecting Tourism?

Renewable Energy

Commercial Solar Solutions: Real Case Studies by Cyanergy

Published

4 days ago

January 30, 2026

Alice Rush

Instead of reacting to the next power bill shock, many Australian businesses are starting to think forward.

Every day, more and more Australian companies are asking a simple question we all seek an answer to: How can we reduce energy costs without compromising performance?

Well, for many, the answer lies in commercial solar power, and Cyanergy is one of the Australian companies helping businesses take that step with confidence.

With hands-on experience delivering commercial solar solutions across a wide range of industries, from farms and sporting clubs to breweries and large manufacturing facilities, Cyanergy’s real-world projects demonstrate how tailored solar systems can transform energy usage and significantly reduce operating expenses.

In this blog, we’ll explore what commercial solar power is, why it matters today, and how Cyanergy’s real-world case studies illuminate the path to a cleaner, more profitable energy future, both financially and environmentally

Let’s get into it!

In this blog post:

What Are Commercial Solar Solutions? |Why does this matter?

Solar solutions for commercial applications are photovoltaic (PV) systems designed to meet the energy needs of businesses, large facilities, and organizations. This system often consumes much more power than residential households.

Commercial solar systems typically include:

Solar PV panels that capture sunlight and convert it to electricity
Inverters and electrical integration are used to convert DC to usable AC power
Monitoring and performance systems are installed to track energy generation
Optional battery storage to support energy autonomy and peak demand management

Unlike residential solar, commercial systems are scaled to handle larger loads and are often optimized for financial return, corporate sustainability goals, and energy independence.

Why Australian Businesses Are Turning to Solar Now?

Throughout the world, many companies are adopting solar power for several compelling reasons. It is already proven
that solar can:

Reduce Operational Costs

Electricity prices are volatile and often increasing worldwide. Incorporating a solar panel helps businesses lock
in
energy cost savings by
producing electricity on-site rather than relying exclusively on grid power.

Strong Financial Returns

Commercial solar systems can pay back their investment in just a few years, far shorter than the 25 to 30 years
the
panels last. This ultimately means, after that, you are left with decades of essentially free electricity.

Sustainability and Brand Value

Customers, employees, and stakeholders increasingly value organizations that visibly commit to environmental
responsibility.

Energy Security

Generating power locally reduces reliance on external sources and grid outages, a huge advantage for businesses
with
continuous operations.

This mix of economic, environmental, and operational benefits makes commercial solar a smart choice for
forward-looking organizations and commercial
property
owners.

4 Proven Solutions Through Real Case Studies by Cyanergy

To understand how these benefits play out in real situations, let’s dive into several commercial solar projects executed by Cyanergy. These case studies show diverse applications of solar power and tangible outcomes for different kinds of businesses.

1. Kew Golf Club (VIC): Sporting Facility Goes Solar

At a local golf club that relied on consistent electricity for lighting, clubhouse operations, and course facilities, Cyanergy installed an 88 kW commercial solar system to reduce costs.

Key Results

Payback period: around 63 months (5 years)
Annual savings: $26,165, a 50% drop in electricity costs
Energy generated per year: 141 MWh

This project demonstrates that not only industrial property but also community-oriented facilities can benefit greatly from solar power.

Beyond cost savings, the golf club also reinforced its commitment to sustainability, attracting eco-conscious members and reducing its carbon footprint.

Why This Matters?

Solar is not limited to manufacturing or heavy industry. In Australia, many Sports clubs, community centres, and similar facilities often have high energy use during peak daylight hours, which can be supported by solar.

2. Sparacino Farms: Where Agriculture Meets Solar Innovation!

Whether for irrigation, cooling, processing, or storage, agricultural operations have faced rising energy costs for a long time.

Similarly, Sparacino Farm was suffering from high electricity costs. For this family-run farm, Cyanergy implemented a 99.76 kW solar system that revolutionised their energy expenses.

Project Highlights

Electricity cost dropped: from $48,000 to $12,000 per year
Monthly savings: roughly $3,000
Payback period: 30 months (2.5 years)
Annual clean energy production: 87 MWh

This dramatic turnaround showcases how rural and agricultural businesses can achieve some of the fastest returns on solar investments.

In environments where a roof, sunlight, or a shed space is available, solar becomes both a strategic and practical choice.

The Sparacino farms example proves that solar isn’t just an environmental sustainability, it’s a core business decision that can significantly improve margins.

3. Philter Brewing: Crafting Sustainability

Sustainability often aligns naturally with brand identity, and for Philter Brewing, this was a perfect match.

With the help of Cyanergy, the brand installed an 86 kW system to slash power costs and support green operations.

Project Impact

Annual energy generated: 99 MWh
Annual savings: $29,130, cutting electricity costs from $81,900 to $52,770
Payback period: 45 months (3.75 years)

The brewery not only reduced operating expenses but also strengthened its reputation as an environmentally conscious brand, a powerful differentiator in a competitive market.

4. Uniplas Mouldings International: Heavy Industry Solar Success

In one of Cyanergy’s most impactful case studies, a large industrial manufacturer significantly transformed its energy profile with solar. And that’s Uniplas Mouldings International!

Project Features

Total installed solar: 490 kW, executed in staged phases
Timeline: Stage 1 (200 kW) completed in just 4 weeks
Subsidy optimisation: Accessed three sets of government incentives
Payback period: as short as 37 months
Annual generation: 752 MWh
Energy cost savings: Lowered from $647,000 to $456,000 per year

Big industrial energy users can unlock dramatic operational savings with solar, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while achieving rapid ROI that justifies investment sooner, without delay.

Beyond Case Studies: Cyanergy’s Approach to Commercial Solar

Across all these projects, Cyanergy’s methodology shares some common themes that contribute to success:

1. Customized System Design

We all know that no two energy profiles are identical, whether it’s a golf club or a manufacturing plant.

At Cyanergy, we design systems tailored to the business’s actual energy usage, site orientation, and financial goals. So you don’t have to worry about adding a solar solution.

2. Financial Optimization

From government incentives to financial investment planning, Cyanergy helps businesses structure their solar projects to reduce upfront costs and improve payback timelines.

3. End-to-End After-Sale Support

Proper solar implementation requires more than panels; it requires site assessment, design, installation coordination, monitoring, and performance guarantee.

At Cyanergy, we support clients at every step, from early energy audits to post-installation support.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

Tracking system performance and energy generation ensures ongoing optimization and confidence in the investment.

Our real-time monitoring tools empower business owners to understand exactly how solar contributes to their bottom line.

The Transformative Role of Solar in Business Strategy

The benefits of commercial solar extend far beyond the energy generated or the energy cost that’s reduced. Overall, solar is a strategic business asset that impacts:

Profitability: Lower operating costs mean more available working capital, whether for reinvestment, dividends, or growth initiatives.

Resilience: Energy independence provides a hedge against market volatility in electricity pricing.

Sustainability Credentials: Solar investments signal that your organization is serious about environmental stewardship, which is crucial to investors, customers, and regulators alike.

Employee and Community Engagement: A company that commits to clean energy signals a long-term vision, strengthening morale and community trust.

Takeaway Thoughts

Cyanergy’s real case studies show how businesses from farms to breweries to industrial giants have harnessed solar to cut costs, stabilize operations, and enhance sustainability.

Whether your organization is exploring its first solar project or looking to scale existing efforts, the data is clear: smart solar investment delivers measurable ROI and long-term value.

As energy dynamics continue to evolve, solar power will become increasingly relevant, and companies that act now will secure economic and environmental advantages for years to come.

So, it’s time for you to take the next move! For more information, contact us today and win a free solar quote!