Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are among the most efficient renewable technologies for heating and cooling buildings. However, their wider deployment is often limited by the relatively high installation costs of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) and the need to improve heat-transfer efficiency and long-term system performance. Developing innovative materials and optimised geothermal components can significantly increase the thermal performance of shallow geothermal systems while reducing installation costs and improving their economic competitiveness.

The GEOCOND project aimed to develop a new generation of high-performance geothermal materials and borehole heat exchanger technologies to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of shallow geothermal systems and underground thermal energy storage (UTES). The project focused on the development of thermally enhanced polyethene pipes with high thermal conductivity, advanced cementitious grouts with improved heat-transfer properties, and optimised borehole heat exchanger configurations to maximise heat exchange between the ground and the circulating heat-transfer fluid.

A key innovation of GEOCOND was the integration of advanced conductive materials into geothermal components without compromising their mechanical performance, durability or long-term reliability. The project combined material development, manufacturing process optimisation, laboratory characterisation, and full-scale field demonstrations to validate the new technologies under real operating conditions. Numerical modelling and experimental testing were also conducted to evaluate the thermal performance of the developed solutions and to quantify their potential to reduce drilling requirements and overall installation costs. By improving both the materials and the design of shallow geothermal systems, GEOCOND contributed to increasing the energy efficiency and economic viability of ground-source heat pump installations for residential, commercial, and public buildings. The project strengthened the competitiveness of European geothermal technologies and provided innovative solutions that support the transition towards low-carbon heating and cooling systems, while laying the technological foundations for subsequent projects such as GEO4CIVHIC and GeoBOOST.

GEOCOND Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 727583.