GEOCOND

Most Easy, Efficient and Low-Cost Geothermal Systems for Retrofitting Civil and Historical Buildings

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 associated with borehole heat exchangers (BHEs), as well as the need to improve heat transfer efficiency and long-term system performance. Developing innovative materials and optimized 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 capable of improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of shallow geothermal systems and underground thermal energy storage (UTES). The project focused on the development of thermally enhanced polyethylene pipes with high thermal conductivity, advanced cementitious grouts with improved heat transfer properties, and optimized borehole heat exchanger configurations to maximize 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 characterization and full-scale field demonstrations to validate the new technologies under real operating conditions. Numerical modelling and experimental testing were also carried out to evaluate the thermal performance of the developed solutions and 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.