A European perspective of the development of deep geothermal in urban areas - Smart thermal grids, geothermal integration into smart cities

The future of our energy supply systems is moving towards Smart Cities and Smart Rural Communities, where the integration of combined technologies using renewable energy sources reduces environmental impact and offers citizens a better quality of life. Geothermal has a particularly important role in smart electricity and thermal grids, since it can deliver both heating and cooling, and electricity.
Shallow geothermal, using heat pumps, is a key energy source for smart energy systems. It provides solutions for the future energy system by coupling smart thermal and electricity grids with underground thermal storage and by providing reliable and affordable heating and cooling supply to both urban and rural areas.
As these technologies can be installed in grid and off-grid heating and cooling systems, they perfectly fit the new smart cities and rural communities approach.
In addition, there is also an important role for shallow geothermal energy in connection with and management of smart electricity grids. Geothermal heat pumps can provide demand response services, thereby contributing to grid stabilisation, whilst Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) is an excellent storage solution. Shallow geothermal technologies will be utilised in the next generation of district heating: Smart Thermal Grids.