3D Conceptual Model Approach for the Assessment of Shallow Geothermal Potential in Urban Areas: the Case Study of the Girona City (Preliminary Results)

Abstract

European urban areas are decarbonising and energy market is shifting towards renewable energies. Utilization of shallow geothermal energy is growing, but more research is needed to ensure effective, sustainable and harmless utilization. The use of ground source heat pump technologies for heating and cooling is increasing in Catalonia, Spain. This paper is presenting the conceptual approach for processing, analysis and assessment of shallow geothermal potential for open and closed-loop systems in the urban area of Girona city (NE Catalonia). In this area ground conditions vary significantly, hence a conceptualised geological 3D model presented in this paper, prepared using Leapfrog Geo software, will be used for the construction of the 3D hydrogeological and heat transport models. This paper presents the preliminary results of the case study. The area acts as one of the case studies of the MUSE project - Managing Urban Shallow geothermal Energy- launched under the GeoERA initiative of the European Geological Surveys (http://geoera.eu/projects/muse3//).