Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology

The development of shallow geothermal energy projects in southern China can meet the demand for regional heating and cooling energy and carbon emission reduction. However, research on constructing evaluation models for the development potential of shallow geothermal energy projects needs to be expan...

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Main Authors: Yiqirui Deng, Zhi Yao, Mengyu Chen, Yu-Jie Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2200
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author Yiqirui Deng
Zhi Yao
Mengyu Chen
Yu-Jie Hu
author_facet Yiqirui Deng
Zhi Yao
Mengyu Chen
Yu-Jie Hu
author_sort Yiqirui Deng
collection DOAJ
description The development of shallow geothermal energy projects in southern China can meet the demand for regional heating and cooling energy and carbon emission reduction. However, research on constructing evaluation models for the development potential of shallow geothermal energy projects needs to be expanded. Therefore, this study adopted a hierarchical analysis method to construct a project development potential evaluation model based on the four aspects of resource endowment, economic evaluation, environmental impact, and social support for the shallow geothermal energy heating and cooling project (vertical buried pipe heat exchange system) in southern China and carried out case application and evaluation verification. The results of the study show that: (a) the weights of the four primary indicators for evaluating the development potential of shallow geothermal energy projects in southern China were resource endowment (0.3960) > economic evaluation (0.2847) > social support (0.1725) > environmental impact (0.1468); (b) four secondary indicators, namely heat exchange performance, incentive and supportive policies, geotechnical and thermal-physical parameters, and groundwater conditions, were more important; (c) the case evaluation score was 6.2911, and case application and evaluation verification were carried out. For projects with good potential for investment, contrary to the single financial NPV index evaluation results, our results are more in line with the actual operation results of the project. Thus, this evaluation system can provide a more comprehensive reference for shallow geothermal energy development and investment decision-making.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-376b3b065fbc4dbfbc210deb5673df1e2025-08-20T03:52:57ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-04-01189220010.3390/en18092200Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle MethodologyYiqirui Deng0Zhi Yao1Mengyu Chen2Yu-Jie Hu3114 Branch, Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, Guizhou University and Ministry of Science and Technology, Guiyang 550025, ChinaSchool of Management, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, Guizhou University and Ministry of Science and Technology, Guiyang 550025, ChinaThe development of shallow geothermal energy projects in southern China can meet the demand for regional heating and cooling energy and carbon emission reduction. However, research on constructing evaluation models for the development potential of shallow geothermal energy projects needs to be expanded. Therefore, this study adopted a hierarchical analysis method to construct a project development potential evaluation model based on the four aspects of resource endowment, economic evaluation, environmental impact, and social support for the shallow geothermal energy heating and cooling project (vertical buried pipe heat exchange system) in southern China and carried out case application and evaluation verification. The results of the study show that: (a) the weights of the four primary indicators for evaluating the development potential of shallow geothermal energy projects in southern China were resource endowment (0.3960) > economic evaluation (0.2847) > social support (0.1725) > environmental impact (0.1468); (b) four secondary indicators, namely heat exchange performance, incentive and supportive policies, geotechnical and thermal-physical parameters, and groundwater conditions, were more important; (c) the case evaluation score was 6.2911, and case application and evaluation verification were carried out. For projects with good potential for investment, contrary to the single financial NPV index evaluation results, our results are more in line with the actual operation results of the project. Thus, this evaluation system can provide a more comprehensive reference for shallow geothermal energy development and investment decision-making.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2200clean energyshallow geothermalsouthern Chinaevaluation modelhierarchical analysis (AHP)investment decision-making
spellingShingle Yiqirui Deng
Zhi Yao
Mengyu Chen
Yu-Jie Hu
Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
Energies
clean energy
shallow geothermal
southern China
evaluation model
hierarchical analysis (AHP)
investment decision-making
title Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
title_full Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
title_fullStr Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
title_short Assessment of the Development Potential of Shallow Geothermal Energy Heating and Cooling Projects in Southern China Based on Whole-Lifecycle Methodology
title_sort assessment of the development potential of shallow geothermal energy heating and cooling projects in southern china based on whole lifecycle methodology
topic clean energy
shallow geothermal
southern China
evaluation model
hierarchical analysis (AHP)
investment decision-making
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2200
work_keys_str_mv AT yiqiruideng assessmentofthedevelopmentpotentialofshallowgeothermalenergyheatingandcoolingprojectsinsouthernchinabasedonwholelifecyclemethodology
AT zhiyao assessmentofthedevelopmentpotentialofshallowgeothermalenergyheatingandcoolingprojectsinsouthernchinabasedonwholelifecyclemethodology
AT mengyuchen assessmentofthedevelopmentpotentialofshallowgeothermalenergyheatingandcoolingprojectsinsouthernchinabasedonwholelifecyclemethodology
AT yujiehu assessmentofthedevelopmentpotentialofshallowgeothermalenergyheatingandcoolingprojectsinsouthernchinabasedonwholelifecyclemethodology