TY - GEN
T1 - An overview of geothermal heat pump applications and a preliminary assessment of its technical potential in the United States
AU - Liu, Xiaobing
AU - Hughes, Patrick
AU - Anderson, Arlene
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) utilize the shallow subsurface of the ground as a heat source for heat pumping operation and a heat sink for the cooling or refrigeration process. GHPs have been proven capable of producing large reductions in primary energy use and associated carbon emissions for satisfying the thermal demands of buildings, such as space conditioning and water heating. However, the current adoption rate of GHPs in the United States is low and GHPs receive little attention by either the general public or policy-makers. The U.S. Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is developing a Geothermal Vision Study (Vision Study) in order to articulate GTO's investment strategies, discuss geothermal growth scenarios for 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050, and to address all market segments of the geothermal industry. The Vision Study Thermal Task Force is developing tools and data that include GHPs for non-electric-power-generation geothermal applications. Work described in this paper is being conducted to provide a credible analysis of potential GHP growth scenarios. This paper gives an overview of the current status of GHP applications, including system configurations, cost and performance, market penetration, and the barriers preventing wider adoption. This paper also introduces the methodology, supporting data, and preliminary results of an assessment for the technical potential of applying GHP systems in businesses and homes of the United States. The assessed technical potential includes energy savings, carbon emissions reductions, reduced summer electrical peak demands, and consumer energy cost savings. Preliminary results from this assessment indicate that GHPs have potential, in each year, to save 6.4 Quads of primary energy, avoid 412.7 Million tons of CO2 emissions, and cut 77.3 Billion energy costs. In addition, GHPs can also significantly reduce peak demand on the electric grid.
AB - Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) utilize the shallow subsurface of the ground as a heat source for heat pumping operation and a heat sink for the cooling or refrigeration process. GHPs have been proven capable of producing large reductions in primary energy use and associated carbon emissions for satisfying the thermal demands of buildings, such as space conditioning and water heating. However, the current adoption rate of GHPs in the United States is low and GHPs receive little attention by either the general public or policy-makers. The U.S. Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is developing a Geothermal Vision Study (Vision Study) in order to articulate GTO's investment strategies, discuss geothermal growth scenarios for 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050, and to address all market segments of the geothermal industry. The Vision Study Thermal Task Force is developing tools and data that include GHPs for non-electric-power-generation geothermal applications. Work described in this paper is being conducted to provide a credible analysis of potential GHP growth scenarios. This paper gives an overview of the current status of GHP applications, including system configurations, cost and performance, market penetration, and the barriers preventing wider adoption. This paper also introduces the methodology, supporting data, and preliminary results of an assessment for the technical potential of applying GHP systems in businesses and homes of the United States. The assessed technical potential includes energy savings, carbon emissions reductions, reduced summer electrical peak demands, and consumer energy cost savings. Preliminary results from this assessment indicate that GHPs have potential, in each year, to save 6.4 Quads of primary energy, avoid 412.7 Million tons of CO2 emissions, and cut 77.3 Billion energy costs. In addition, GHPs can also significantly reduce peak demand on the electric grid.
KW - Buildings
KW - Commercial
KW - Geothermal heat pumps
KW - Renewable thermal
KW - Residential
KW - Space cooling
KW - Space heating
KW - Technical potential
KW - Vision study
KW - Water heating
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018617264&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85018617264
T3 - Transactions - Geothermal Resources Council
SP - 707
EP - 716
BT - Geothermal Energy Here and Now
PB - Geothermal Resources Council
T2 - Geothermal Resources Council 2016 Annual Meeting - Geothermal Energy Here and Now: Sustainable, Clean, Flexible, GRC 2016
Y2 - 23 October 2016 through 26 October 2016
ER -
