TY - THES

T1 - Advancing Sustainable Energy Solutions

T2 - The Application of Borehole Heat Exchangers in District Heating, Aquaculture, Agriculture and Beyond

AU - Ofner, Georg

N1 - no embargo

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Geothermal energy is considered a crucial solution in the global effort to achieve climate resilience. It provides baseload capacity and independence from external factors. This thesis evaluates traditional and innovative closed-loop geothermal extraction systems, examining their environmental impact, energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and alignment with global trends. The thesis highlights the potential of geothermal energy across various sectors, while addressing challenges such as high initial costs and geological uncertainties. The discussion revolves around the key areas: Global megatrends, economics and environment with a focus on deep geothermal heat exchangers. The analysis of global megatrends shows that geothermal energy is rapidly growing, especially in heat pump applications and district heating, which supports the adoption of renewable energy and electrification initiatives. Promising prospects for electricity generation, even at lower temperatures, are offered by emerging techniques such as the super-long gravity heat pipe (SLGHP), which aligns with renewable energy trends. Although the deep coaxial ground heat exchanger (DCGHE) generally yields higher energy outputs in the simulations, according to the economics, the SLGHP presents advantages in electricity generation efficiency due to lower required outflow temperatures. However, obstacles and research questions remain for both systems due to the lack of prototypes and data. In terms of environmental aspects, the selection of working fluid for geothermal energy must be carefully considered due to potential ecological impacts associated with certain fluids. Rigorous project design is essential to mitigate risks and ensure responsible resource utilization. This master's thesis emphasizes the diverse nature of geothermal energy use and emphasizes the need for integrated analyses to drive sustainable advancements in the field.

AB - Geothermal energy is considered a crucial solution in the global effort to achieve climate resilience. It provides baseload capacity and independence from external factors. This thesis evaluates traditional and innovative closed-loop geothermal extraction systems, examining their environmental impact, energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and alignment with global trends. The thesis highlights the potential of geothermal energy across various sectors, while addressing challenges such as high initial costs and geological uncertainties. The discussion revolves around the key areas: Global megatrends, economics and environment with a focus on deep geothermal heat exchangers. The analysis of global megatrends shows that geothermal energy is rapidly growing, especially in heat pump applications and district heating, which supports the adoption of renewable energy and electrification initiatives. Promising prospects for electricity generation, even at lower temperatures, are offered by emerging techniques such as the super-long gravity heat pipe (SLGHP), which aligns with renewable energy trends. Although the deep coaxial ground heat exchanger (DCGHE) generally yields higher energy outputs in the simulations, according to the economics, the SLGHP presents advantages in electricity generation efficiency due to lower required outflow temperatures. However, obstacles and research questions remain for both systems due to the lack of prototypes and data. In terms of environmental aspects, the selection of working fluid for geothermal energy must be carefully considered due to potential ecological impacts associated with certain fluids. Rigorous project design is essential to mitigate risks and ensure responsible resource utilization. This master's thesis emphasizes the diverse nature of geothermal energy use and emphasizes the need for integrated analyses to drive sustainable advancements in the field.

KW - Geothermie

KW - Aquakultur

KW - Bohrlochwärmetauscher

KW - erneuerbare Energie

KW - Geothermal energy

KW - Aquaculture

KW - Borehole Heat Exchanger

KW - renewable energy

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -