Geo-HEP Applications
Cooling, Heating, and
Thermal Energy Storage
Geo-HEP Applications:
Cooling, Heating, and Thermal Energy Storage
The Geo-HEP system consists of two main components with different thermal functions:
the Geo-HEP high-performance energy pile (HEP) and the Geo-HEP seasonal storage unit.
The high-performance energy pile utilizes the natural thermal conditions of the surrounding mountains or subsoil. It can be used for passive cooling and—in combination with a heat pump—for active heat supply.
The Geo-HEP seasonal storage system operates on a different principle. It is installed in the mountains or in the subsoil but does not use the natural ambient temperature as an energy source or heat sink. It serves to specifically store supplied thermal energy over the long term.
Possible heat sources for the seasonal storage system include, for example, industrial waste heat, heat generated from surplus photovoltaic electricity via power-to-heat, or heat from thermal power plants.
Depending on the system configuration, part of the seasonal storage array can also be used for cold storage. This allows the seasonal storage system to be integrated into a bidirectional operation.
Machinery and Process Cooling
Production machinery and technical processes can continuously generate heat over many hours of operation. The Geo-HEP system can absorb this heat via a closed heat transfer fluid circuit and transfer it to the ground.
Under suitable conditions, cooling can occur passively, eliminating the need for a conventional chiller operating continuously. This approach is particularly advantageous for applications with high annual operating hours and regular cooling requirements.
Cooling and Heating Buildings
Commercial, administrative, and manufacturing buildings increasingly require both cooling and an efficient heat supply. The Geo-HEP system can support both functions as part of a comprehensive geothermal concept.
In the summer, or during cooling operation, excess heat is transferred to the ground. During heating operation, the system serves as a heat source for a heat pump. This allows the same geothermal infrastructure to be used for different thermal requirements.
Data Centers and Server Rooms
Server rooms and data centers are among the applications with continuous or regularly recurring cooling needs. Especially during long operating periods, the passive use of the subsurface can be an attractive approach for supplying cooling energy.
Whether and to what extent Geo-HEP can be used is assessed based on the actual cooling demand, the required temperatures, the existing system infrastructure, and the geological and hydrogeological conditions.
Heat Supply with a Heat Pump
In heating mode, the Geo-HEP system provides geothermal heat as a heat source for a heat pump. The heat pump raises the available heat to the temperature level required for the building or the technical process.
The relatively constant underground temperatures throughout the year create favorable and predictable operating conditions for the heat pump system. Actual efficiency depends, among other factors, on the required flow temperatures, the load profile, the geology, and the hydraulic integration.
New Construction and Modernization
The Geo-HEP system can be evaluated for both new construction and the retrofitting of existing heating and cooling systems.
Integration involves more than just considering energy demand and location. Existing system technology, operating hours, required temperatures, technical interfaces, and available space are also factored into the planning.
Making Good Use of Waste Heat
Buildings, production facilities, and technical processes often generate heat that is not immediately needed at the time it is produced.
With the Geo-HEP seasonal storage system, this thermal energy can be captured, stored, and reused at a later time or simultaneously to meet other heating and cooling needs.
Which application is right for your project?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether Geo-HEP is technically and economically viable for a specific application. The key is to consider the heating and cooling demands, load profile, system technology, and the geological and hydrogeological conditions of the site together.
Based on this analysis, the system configuration and the required number of high-performance energy piles are determined on a project-by-project basis.