GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
The subsurface can be used as a heat source, cold
source and for thermal energy storage. Due
to the large volume available and the uniform
temperatures, it is highly suited to many low-temperature applications.
Environmental and ground-source heat from the subsurface are utilised by means of horizontal or vertical ground loops or by pumping groundwater, and used for heating (generally via heat pumps). Besides heating, this kind of heat pump installation can also be used for space cooling. In some installations, cooling is performed directly from the subsurface during the summer without using heat pumps