Geothermal Energy

The Terme Basin, located right in the city centre, has for decades been known as one of Turkey’s richest geothermal zones. Its waters, flowing between 50 and 57°C at a rate of around 200 liters per second, have long powered thermal hotels and spas.

Yet as Kırşehir grew, so did the awareness that this natural heat could serve a broader purpose. The municipality began exploring ways to use geothermal energy not only for tourism, but also to heat homes, schools, and public buildings. The ambition was to build a district energy system that would reduce fossil fuel consumption, improve air quality, and make the city a model of sustainable development.

This vision took shape in what became known as the Kırşehir District Energy Project – a major initiative designed to harness the city’s geothermal potential for the benefit of its residents. The project combined two objectives that are not always easy to balance: efficient energy supply and long-term environmental protection. To achieve both, the system was built to extract geothermal water, transfer its heat through an optimized network, and reinject the cooled water back into the ground, maintaining the natural balance of the underground reservoir.

The technical challenge was significant. The system needed to deliver heat reliably to hundreds of buildings while handling large volumes of hot water under varying flow conditions. It required precise control, reliable pumps, and a network capable of sustaining both district heating and thermal water supply for tourism. Grundfos provided the advanced pumping and control solutions that made this possible – ensuring stable performance, energy efficiency, and secure reinjection of geothermal water.

The results speak for themselves. During the 2023/2024 winter season, approximately 1.3 million m³ of geothermal water were used for district heating, and every drop was reinjected  (at a return temperature down to 41ºC), preserving the underground reservoirs. In the same period, total water consumption in the thermal tourism sector dropped to just 320,000 m³, down from over 1 million m³ previously. In practical terms, that means less waste, less environmental stress, and a far more sustainable use of the geothermal resource.

Today, around 1,800 homes in Kırşehir are heated entirely by geothermal energy. For the families living there, this has brought not only comfort and cost stability but also cleaner air and reduced dependence on imported fuels. For local hotels, it means year-round access to hot water without compromising sustainability. And for the city as a whole, it represents a visible step towards climate-friendly urban development.

The impact, however, goes beyond the numbers. The project has changed how Kırşehir views its natural resources – from something to be used, to something to be managed wisely. It has strengthened local pride and inspired other municipalities in Turkey to explore similar opportunities. Cities such as Afyonkarahisar, Denizli, and Manisa are now studying the Kırşehir model to guide their own geothermal initiatives.

Hüseyin Kaya, General Manager of Kırşehir Thermal Tourism and Industry Inc., reflects on the journey:

“Our goal was clear – efficiency and sustainability. With Grundfos’ technology, we achieved both. That is our greatest success.”

The Kırşehir District Energy Project shows what can be accomplished when vision, technology, and local commitment come together. It demonstrates that the transition to clean energy does not depend only on large-scale infrastructure or national programs. Medium-sized cities, too, can play a decisive role when they choose to make full use of their local resources.

As steam rises from the geothermal wells of Kırşehir on a cold winter morning, it carries a quiet message – that the path to a sustainable energy future often begins close to home, quite literally beneath our feet.

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