COST Action 21156 (since 2022)
european network for FOstering Large-scale ImplementAtion of energy GEostructure (FOLIAGE)
PD Dr. J. Epting
Energy geostructures are a special type of ground heat exchanger installed within ground contact structures, such as retaining walls, piles, tunnels and other buried infrastructure. Thy are a relatively mature technology whose physical behaviour has been studied, including at a number or pilot sites.
However, both technical and non-technical barriers still prevent actual implementation at a large scale. This applies both in terms of quantities and in geographical reach. Some of the challenges may be related to:
Integration issues, including of shallow geothermal energy with other renewables, and of energy geostructures with other shallow geothermal sources.
Upscaling from the mastering of individual structures to the planning of geothermal district heating and the connection with the city scale.
Sustainability in the long term in terms of Environmental Impact Assessment and knowledge of the long term energy performance.
The absence of a database of knowledge regarding existing energy geostructures, their implementation, characteristics and performance.
Retrofitting of existing buildings and/or existing geostructures.
Non technical issues related to legislation, financial incentives, social impact, lack of standardization or under-developed skills in the workforce.
In addition, the full potential of this technology is not explored and some opportunities still have to be investigated. Among them are the waste heat storage or the balance of energy loads at district scale.
The aim of this COST Action is to gather all needed information to reduce these barriers and foster development by creating a multi-disciplinary network between the different stakeholders (local authorities, communities, developers, designers, academics, contractors, …).
COST-Action DHC (since 2019)
PD Dr. J. Epting, A. Affolter
The ACTION addresses the inclusion of geothermal technologies into district heating and cooling systems in Europe to foster the de-carbonization of the heating & cooling market. With regard to technological solutions, the ACTION follows a strong bottom – up approach. Shallow-, intermediate as well as deep geothermal technologies are considered in monovalent or multivalent grids. Geothermal may act as a heating source, sink or storage and may be combined with other renewables (e.g. solar thermal), waste heat and other technologies like carbon capture and utilization. The ACTION covers networking, knowledge exchange & transfer, training and stakeholder interaction activities based on real life case studies to investigate and promote solutions and roadmaps for raising the RES share in public heating and cooling grids to at least 30% in 2030 and at least 50% in 2050.
Research network for including geothermal technologies into decarbonized heating and cooling grids
COST-Action GABI (2015 - 2019)
Prof. Dr. P. Huggenberger, PD Dr. J. Epting
The COST Action is called GABI - European network for shallow geothermal energy applications in buildings and infrastructure, bringing together geological survey organisations and other researchers in institutes and universities who work on geology and geothermal issues (e.g. civil engineers, planers, national and regional environmental engineers, etc.). A key aspect of the action is to share knowledge and experiences. The network will ensure an inclusive and open platform for scientific discussion to define European best practice rules for geothermal applications, promote public awareness and confidence in these geothermal techniques, and foster advancement in knowledge through collaboration.
Fundamentally, the COST Action is intended to provide improved knowledge to decision-makers, planers and others. This also incorporates a direct involvement of representatives from the cantons that geological survey partners are already working with, or intend to do so (e.g. Environmental Agencies of the Cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft AUE BS & BL; civil engineering departments of the Cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft TBA BS & BL, Federal Office of the Environment FOEN of Switzerland; Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE). These partners will play an important role in guiding some of our activities.
The Swiss Partner, the Applied and Environmental Geology (AUG) Research group of the Basel University is leading in 3D-gelogical and hydrogeological modelling of subsurface systems. The tools developed by the AUG are an important basis for the discussions on sustainable subsurface planning including the thermal management of subsurface resources also in the context of questions concerning the debate on climate change and energy transition (Huggenberger & Epting 2011).
European network for shallow geothermal energy applications in buildings and infrastructures (GABI)
COST-Action SUB-URBAN (2013 - 2017)
Prof. Dr. P. Huggenberger, PD Dr. J. Epting
The COST Action is called SUB-URBAN - A European network to improve the understanding and the use of the ground beneath our cities, bringing together geological survey organisations and other researchers in institutes and universities who work on urban geology, or on issues that may relate to urban geology (e.g. transportation experts, civil engineers, urban planners, etc.).
Swiss researchers will take advantage of the collaboration with different research groups in the domain of management of resources in Urban Systems. The Swiss Partner, the Applied and Environmental Geology (AUG) Research group of the Basel University, has been invited to join the Action because of its strong competence and experience in the domain of Urban Geology. The AUG is leading in 3D-gelogical and hydrogeological modelling of urban systems. The tools developed by the AUG are an important basis for the discussions on sustainable subsurface planning including the thermal management of urban aquifers also in the context of questions concerning the debate on climate change and energy transition (Huggenberger & Epting 2011).
SUB-URBAN - A European network to improve understanding and use of the ground beneath our cities