The energy of the consumer will examine the feasibility of the network geothermal system system

Published on February 26, 2025 by Kim Riley

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The Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a feasibility study that consumer energy will carry out the potential implementation of a geothermal network system in areas in which the company serves both as an electrical and as a natural gas provider.

The efforts are part of Consumer Energy’s plan to reduce heating costs for customers in need of protection and at the same time reduce emissions in districts with historically low air quality, said the company on Monday.

“It has been shown that network geothermal systems improve energy efficiency by up to 600 percent and support environmental justice, carbon reduction and cost savings,” said Holly Bowers, Vice President for Gas Engineering and Supply from Consumers Energy. “This study is only the beginning of our work, and we look forward to taking what we learn from it and continue to expand to support the needs of our customers.”

In particular, networked geothermal energy refers to a method for heating and cooling buildings and houses by using a soil source heat pump to transmit the liquid via a sloping pipe system. In the case of network geothermal energy, the interconnected system can be shared the energy between the customer, so that the heat can be used by a company from a house in the road for cooling purposes, which significantly increases energy efficiency.

Consumers Energy, which provides 6.8 million of the 10 million inhabitants of Michigan natural gas and/or electricity, said that PSC-approved study will model and evaluate the potential for a network geothermal system, whereby the most cost-efficient and energy-efficient locations are planning to replace natural gas use.

According to the company, the systems, which have been used in places such as College Campus for decades such as College Campus, best work in regions with various energy loads, such as industrial parks alongside industrial parks.

The project aims to reduce emissions by 17 percent by heating houses and companies in Michigan by 2030, which eliminates around 8 tons of CO2E per house annually, said the energy of the consumer and will contribute to the healthy climate target of Michigan by 2050.