GEOTHERMAL ENERGY FOR COOLING, HEATING, AND STORAGE
Using thermal energy
intelligently—individually or in combination.
Cooling. Heating. Combining. Storing.
Cooling
Absorb excess heat from buildings, machinery, or technical processes and transfer it to the geothermal system.
Heating
Use the geothermal infrastructure as a heat source and, when needed, raise the temperature of the heat to the required level using a heat pump.
Combining Cooling and Heating
Where there is a simultaneous or distributed demand for heating and cooling, both thermal functions can be integrated into a coordinated system design.
Save
Shift the timing of heating and cooling, provide them as needed, and integrate them into a coordinated system design.
Two Geo-HEP systems for different thermal applications
Geo-HEP Systems employs two clearly distinct system approaches.
The Geo-HEP high-performance energy pile combines continuous heat exchange with the ground with an integrated thermal storage mass for short-term load buffering.
(Shown in the video: the installation of a high-performance energy pile)
The Geo-HEP seasonal storage system, on the other hand, is specifically designed for the long-term or seasonal storage of heat and cold.
Geo-HEP High-Performance Energy Pile
Heat exchange, passive cooling, and thermal load buffering
The high-performance energy pile is the central functional element of the Geo-HEP system for cooling and heating.
Its design combines a large heat exchange surface with the surrounding ground with an integrated thermal storage mass. This allows short-term thermal loads to be buffered within the system and subsequently exchanged with the ground.
Under suitable conditions, the system enables particularly energy-efficient passive cooling. In heating mode, it can be used as a heat source for a heat pump.
Geo-HEP Seasonal Storage
Store heat and cold and reuse them simultaneously or at a later time
The Geo-HEP seasonal storage system is being developed as a standalone thermal storage system.
While the high-performance energy pile focuses on ongoing heat exchange with the ground and short-term buffering of thermal loads, the seasonal storage system is specifically designed for long-term storage.
Based on the current state of development, potential energy sources include, for example, heat from summer building cooling, industrial process and waste heat, or solar thermal energy. The concept is designed to be used for both heat and cold storage.
Geothermal Energy for Buildings, Industry, and Technical Applications
Geo-HEP systems are particularly well-suited for projects that require heat dissipation over many operating hours, have combined heating and cooling needs, or aim to make efficient use of available space for a geothermal system.
The technical design is always based on the actual performance profile, the existing plant equipment, and the site conditions.
Machine and Process Cooling
Production machinery and technical processes often generate heat over many hours of operation. Geo-HEP can assist with cooling such applications and transfer excess heat to the subsurface via a closed-loop heat exchange system.
Cooling and Heating Buildings
Geo-HEP can combine both requirements into a coordinated system design and—depending on the project-specific configuration—also support cooling and heating operations in parallel.
Data Centers and Server Rooms
Data centers and server rooms require reliable cooling for a high number of operating hours per year. Geo-HEP systems can therefore be particularly appealing when cooling needs are continuous and predictable. Cold storage is also a component of the seasonal storage concept currently under development.
Other Applications
Production buildings, administrative buildings, large residential complexes, and technical infrastructure can also have different heating and cooling profiles. What matters is not the building category alone, but rather the question of when thermal loads occur, at what capacity, and at what temperature levels.
What Sets Geo-HEP Systems Apart
Energy-efficient
Under suitable conditions, direct heat exchange with the ground enables passive cooling with low electrical energy consumption.
Combining Cooling and Heating
The same geothermal infrastructure can be integrated into both cooling and heating systems and tailored to meet combined thermal requirements.Buffering Thermal Loads
The integrated water mass of the high-performance energy pile can absorb short-term thermal load peaks and buffer them within the system.Compact land use
High-performance energy piles enable a comparatively compact use of the floor space available for the geothermal system.Flexible and project-specific
The number, configuration, and technical integration of the system components are determined based on the actual energy demand and the project’s specific conditions.For new construction and retrofits
Geo-HEP can be evaluated for both new buildings and facilities as well as for the retrofitting of existing heating and cooling systems.
The subsurface is part of the thermal system
The performance of a geothermal system does not depend solely on the technology used.
The key factor is how well the subsurface can absorb, conduct, and release heat.
Therefore, the planning process takes into account, among other things, the structure and stratification of the subsurface, thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity, strength and drillability, as well as groundwater conditions.
Groundwater can aid in heat transfer
Existing groundwater—and especially moving groundwater—can transport heat further underground, thereby aiding heat dissipation.
The Geo-HEP system operates as a closed heat exchange system. Groundwater is neither extracted nor incorporated into the system’s circuit.
Each Geo-HEP system is designed individually
A Geo-HEP system is not sized according to a fixed standard scheme.
The starting point is the project’s thermal requirements and the site conditions. Factors taken into account include:
- required heating and cooling capacity
- Heat and cooling loads over time
- annual operating hours
- required temperature levels
- existing building systems and infrastructure
- Geological and hydrogeological conditions
- Available space
- Technical and regulatory framework
Only this comprehensive assessment can determine the system configuration, the number of system components required, and the basis for a cost-effectiveness analysis.
Is Geo-HEP right for your project?
Whether it’s a production facility, data center, commercial building, residential neighborhood, or the modernization of an existing cooling and heating system:
The technical possibilities depend on energy demand, load profile, temperature level, system design, and site conditions.
Let’s work together to determine which Geo-HEP concept is right for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geo-HEP
How does passive cooling work?
Under the right conditions, excess heat can be transferred directly to the ground via the Geo-HEP system without the need for a conventional chiller to operate continuously.
Can Geo-HEP also be used for heating?
Yes. The geothermal system can serve as a heat source for a heat pump, which raises the existing heat to the required temperature level.
Can a Geo-HEP system cool and heat at the same time?
Geo-HEP systems can address both heating and cooling needs within a single, integrated system design. The specific operating mode depends on the application and the project-specific design.
What role does groundwater play?
Moving groundwater can aid heat transfer in the subsurface. It is neither extracted nor part of the system's closed loop.
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