Nested Shallow Geothermal Systems

Alejandro García-Gil, Miguel Mejías Moreno, Eduardo Garrido Schneider, Miguel Ángel Marazuela, Corinna Abesser, Jesús Mateo Lázaro and José Ángel Sánchez Navarro
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Alejandro García-Gil: Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), 28003 Madrid, Spain
Miguel Mejías Moreno: Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), 28003 Madrid, Spain
Eduardo Garrido Schneider: Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), 28003 Madrid, Spain
Miguel Ángel Marazuela: Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research (IDAEA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Corinna Abesser: British Geological Survey, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
Jesús Mateo Lázaro: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
José Ángel Sánchez Navarro: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: The long-term sustainability of shallow geothermal systems in dense urbanized areas can be potentially compromised by the existence of thermal interfaces. Thermal interferences between systems have to be avoided to prevent the loss of system performance. Nevertheless, in this work we provide evidence of a positive feedback from thermal interferences in certain controlled situations. Two real groundwater heat pump systems were investigated using real exploitation data sets to estimate the thermal energy demand bias and, by extrapolation, to assess the nature of thermal interferences between the systems. To do that, thermal interferences were modelled by means of a calibrated and validated 3D city-scale numerical model reproducing groundwater flow and heat transport. Results obtained showed a 39% (522 MWh·yr −1 ) energy imbalance towards cooling for one of the systems, which generated a hot thermal plume towards the downgradient and second system investigated. The nested system in the hot thermal plume only used groundwater for heating, thus establishing a positive symbiotic relationship between them. Considering the energy balance of both systems together, a reduced 9% imbalance was found, hence ensuring the long-term sustainability and renewability of the shallow geothermal resource exploited. The nested geothermal systems described illustrate the possibilities of a new management strategy in shallow geothermal energy governance.

Keywords: geothermal energy; low enthalpy; groundwater; heat pump; nested systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:5152-:d:375677

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