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Simulation and analysis of a geothermal energy network : A technical and societal perspective on modern energy infrastructure

Chaulagain, Nischal LU (2025)
Abstract
Responsible for roughly 40 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, energy use
for heating and cooling in the built environment constitutes a significant portion
of annual total carbon emissions. The effort to decarbonise the heating and
cooling sector necessitates efficient production, distribution and end use of
energy. In this context, district heating and cooling is considered one of the
cost-efficient, reliable and low-emission systems. The benefits are further
extended by modern district networks, which facilitate bi-directional energy
flows, allow heating and cooling from the same network, promote decentralised
energy production and most importantly, allows integration of multiple energy
sources,... (More)
Responsible for roughly 40 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, energy use
for heating and cooling in the built environment constitutes a significant portion
of annual total carbon emissions. The effort to decarbonise the heating and
cooling sector necessitates efficient production, distribution and end use of
energy. In this context, district heating and cooling is considered one of the
cost-efficient, reliable and low-emission systems. The benefits are further
extended by modern district networks, which facilitate bi-directional energy
flows, allow heating and cooling from the same network, promote decentralised
energy production and most importantly, allows integration of multiple energy
sources, including low-grade thermal sources and energy sharing between
buildings.
As local thermal resources, such as the shallow geothermal systems, are
integrated and energy flows between connected buildings are started, role of
multiple stakeholders comes into play in these modern district energy systems.
Unlike the conventional district networks where energy flows from energy
producers to consumers, the role of “prosumers” here becomes of paramount
importance. This combined effort for decarbonization of the overall heating
and cooling system is still under a development phase and demands for a
comprehensive technical, social, economic and regulatory breakthrough for its
wider adoption and application.
This thesis aims to contribute to this body of developing knowledge by first
presenting a practical design of a low-temperature geothermal district heating
and cooling network that features sectoral coupling of electricity and heat
sources with seasonal thermal storage by using geothermal borefields. The
thesis comprehensively describes the role of system components including the
decentralized heat pumps, and system structure in achieving energy sharing
between connected buildings and also quantifies possible energy exchange.
Furthermore, the decarbonization potential of such systems is presented
through a comparative study against conventional and alternative energy
systems. Secondly, the social perspective related to the adoption of this
improved district heating is discussed with a focus on the influence of business
models, ownership structures, and legal frameworks on prosumer participation.
Using a digital twin modelling approach, the thesis presents substantial
benefits of low-temperature geothermal energy networks with energy sharing
between connected properties. The results show an enhancement in the
coefficient of performance (COP) of the decentralised heat pumps, thereby
reducing electrical energy consumption by approximately 14 %. When
connecting the buildings by energy sharing, thermal load sharing between
borefields (energy source) of different properties was observed. Further analysis
showed enhancement of the operational performance of borefields owing to
the energy exchange. Additionally, the comparative analysis of operational
emissions from the presented district network against alternative energy sources
proved substantial environmental benefits of these networks.
The thesis also discusses the evolving ownership structure and business
models of modern district thermal networks. The thesis discusses that because
of its “hassle-free” nature for the end user, “heat-as-a-service” models are
perceived to grasp wider public acceptance in future. Furthermore, owing to the
longer technical lifespan of district networks, prosumers may be interested to
“own” the network to capitalise on the continuous revenue stream that it
generates. Additionally, low energy price, and “green value” which the modern
energy infrastructure offers were considered as the main drivers for prosumers'
participation. Alternatively, the unclear legal definition of “waste heat” in
residential buildings was considered as a potential barrier for energy sharing
solutions. The thesis suggests that explicit regulatory frameworks to define
“heat prosumers” and consideration of waste heat as a financial instrument may
potentially enhance prosumer involvement in modern energy infrastructure. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
5GDHC, Geothermal, Energy sharing, sectoral coupling, low temperature district network
pages
59 pages
publisher
Division of Building Services, LTH, Lund University
ISBN
978-91-85415-13-6
978-91-85415-22-9
project
Energidelning inom Embassy of Sharing, Malmö – system, funktion och komfort
The CHANGE – The Cooling and Heating transition Acceleration via Network Geothermal Energy
CoolGeoHeat II INTERREG-ÖKS
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e63a037c-ec39-41f9-8428-d0cb7f481c3f
date added to LUP
2025-11-25 11:01:45
date last changed
2025-12-10 11:11:14
@misc{e63a037c-ec39-41f9-8428-d0cb7f481c3f,
  abstract     = {{Responsible for roughly 40 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, energy use<br/>for heating and cooling in the built environment constitutes a significant portion<br/>of annual total carbon emissions. The effort to decarbonise the heating and<br/>cooling sector necessitates efficient production, distribution and end use of<br/>energy. In this context, district heating and cooling is considered one of the<br/>cost-efficient, reliable and low-emission systems. The benefits are further<br/>extended by modern district networks, which facilitate bi-directional energy<br/>flows, allow heating and cooling from the same network, promote decentralised<br/>energy production and most importantly, allows integration of multiple energy<br/>sources, including low-grade thermal sources and energy sharing between<br/>buildings.<br/>As local thermal resources, such as the shallow geothermal systems, are<br/>integrated and energy flows between connected buildings are started, role of<br/>multiple stakeholders comes into play in these modern district energy systems.<br/>Unlike the conventional district networks where energy flows from energy<br/>producers to consumers, the role of “prosumers” here becomes of paramount<br/>importance. This combined effort for decarbonization of the overall heating<br/>and cooling system is still under a development phase and demands for a<br/>comprehensive technical, social, economic and regulatory breakthrough for its<br/>wider adoption and application.<br/>This thesis aims to contribute to this body of developing knowledge by first<br/>presenting a practical design of a low-temperature geothermal district heating<br/>and cooling network that features sectoral coupling of electricity and heat<br/>sources with seasonal thermal storage by using geothermal borefields. The<br/>thesis comprehensively describes the role of system components including the<br/>decentralized heat pumps, and system structure in achieving energy sharing<br/>between connected buildings and also quantifies possible energy exchange.<br/>Furthermore, the decarbonization potential of such systems is presented<br/>through a comparative study against conventional and alternative energy<br/>systems. Secondly, the social perspective related to the adoption of this<br/>improved district heating is discussed with a focus on the influence of business<br/>models, ownership structures, and legal frameworks on prosumer participation.<br/>Using a digital twin modelling approach, the thesis presents substantial<br/>benefits of low-temperature geothermal energy networks with energy sharing<br/>between connected properties. The results show an enhancement in the<br/>coefficient of performance (COP) of the decentralised heat pumps, thereby<br/>reducing electrical energy consumption by approximately 14 %. When<br/>connecting the buildings by energy sharing, thermal load sharing between<br/>borefields (energy source) of different properties was observed. Further analysis<br/>showed enhancement of the operational performance of borefields owing to<br/>the energy exchange. Additionally, the comparative analysis of operational<br/>emissions from the presented district network against alternative energy sources<br/>proved substantial environmental benefits of these networks.<br/>The thesis also discusses the evolving ownership structure and business<br/>models of modern district thermal networks. The thesis discusses that because<br/>of its “hassle-free” nature for the end user, “heat-as-a-service” models are<br/>perceived to grasp wider public acceptance in future. Furthermore, owing to the<br/>longer technical lifespan of district networks, prosumers may be interested to<br/>“own” the network to capitalise on the continuous revenue stream that it<br/>generates. Additionally, low energy price, and “green value” which the modern<br/>energy infrastructure offers were considered as the main drivers for prosumers'<br/>participation. Alternatively, the unclear legal definition of “waste heat” in<br/>residential buildings was considered as a potential barrier for energy sharing<br/>solutions. The thesis suggests that explicit regulatory frameworks to define<br/>“heat prosumers” and consideration of waste heat as a financial instrument may<br/>potentially enhance prosumer involvement in modern energy infrastructure.}},
  author       = {{Chaulagain, Nischal}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-85415-13-6}},
  keywords     = {{5GDHC; Geothermal; Energy sharing; sectoral coupling; low temperature district network}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  note         = {{Licentiate Thesis}},
  publisher    = {{Division of Building Services, LTH, Lund University}},
  title        = {{Simulation and analysis of a geothermal energy network : A technical and societal perspective on modern energy infrastructure}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/233898412/Kappa.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}