Geothermal heat pumps on the rise

Geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps (GHPs) are one of the fastest growing applications of renewable energy in the world with worldwide annual growth rate which exceeded 10% over the past 10 years.
Geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps (GHPs) are one of the fastest growing applications of renewable energy in the world with worldwide annual growth rate which exceeded 10% over the past 10 years.

About 3 million units are installed worldwide*, representing over 35 MWt (thermal) in 43 countries, mainly in the USA (about 1 million units), China (434 000), Sweden (372 000), Germany (186 000), the Netherlands (116 000) and Canada (93 000).
GHPs use normal ground or groundwater temperatures (between about 5 and 30°C), which are available in all countries of the world, to provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water for buildings.

Their main benefit is their high energy efficiency – ground-coupled heat pumps are demonstating SPFs in excess of 3.5 – while their main drawback vs air-source heat pumps is the higher initial cost due to excavation for piping or drilling of a well.

* Lund, Freeston and Boyd, Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy Worldwide Review