The need for advanced tools to assess ground temperature and capacity becomes increasingly important as Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) are implemented in densely populated areas around the world. Existing tool such as EED is widely used by heat pump designers for detailed borehole design, leveraging the g-function (Spitler et al., 2022) to model thermal responses. However, these tools lack dynamically integrated geothermal borehole data, which could provide rapid insights into ground temperature variations due to existing and new borehole operations, thereby preventing overcrowding and overexploitation in high-density areas.
This work presents the development of a specialized web application tailored for geothermal boreholes in Stockholm. With 131,192 active boreholes, shallow geothermal energy is in Sweden a viable source for heat pumps. The tool developed in this work simulates ground temperature responses, both at existing and potential borehole sites, offering predictions for the present and the next 20 years. The tool solves an important need for the city of Stockholm and can potentially be implemented in any other cities.
Utilizing a full-stack web development approach, with JavaScript for the frontend and Python for backend calculations, the tool integrates mathematical models based on the finite line source theory with real-world borehole data visualized on an interactive map. The tool is based on the work done by Maria Letizia Fascì during her PhD. Its simulations demonstrate how borehole activity affects ground temperatures, even in areas without direct installations, due to the influence of neighboring boreholes. This functionality allows for quick assessments of long-term temperature impacts due to constant heat load, helping to guide decisions on future borehole installations.
As one of the applications, the generated heatmap highlights temperature trends, assisting in identifying cooler zones and informing energy planning. This tool is specifically crafted to serve a wide audience, from government authorities overseeing geothermal energy expansion to designers and the public. Its user-friendly interface ensures accessibility for all, requiring minimal technical expertise. Whether you're a policy maker, an energy planner, or a designer, this tool provides an easy-to-use platform to support informed decisions in geothermal energy management. The presentation follows along with the problem description, methodology and Online App Demonstration.