Geothermal Energy and

Energy Piles

by Tony Suckling
1. Introduction
2. System using piles in Europe
3. Energy piles in the UK
4. Closed loop boreholes in the UK
5. Site Investigation
6. Questions
Introduction
 Closed and Open Systems

e.g. Horizontal / vertical loops & e.g. Groundwater pumping

energy piles
 Ground Storage Systems in UK
• Open Systems
- New Parliamentary Building
- Greater London Authority Building
- Eskmills, Musselburgh
• Closed Systems
- Plus others
- Keble College, Oxford
- Pallant House Gallery,
Chichester
- Eastlea Community Centre,
East London
- Welsh Assembly Building
- Regents Park
- Many others
 Open Systems

Advantages… Disadvantages…

• Groundwater at 12°C is • Groundwater pumping – high

suitable for use directly as a power consumption
cooling medium – no chiller • Abstraction and discharge
required licences will be required
• Water is suitable for toilet • Yield and reliability of
flushing or other low-grade borehole may be
uses – saves on mains unpredictable
water consumption
• May encounter problems with
biofouling
 Closed Systems

Advantages… Disadvantages…

• If groundwater flow is present, • Balance the annual flow

cooling systems will operate of heating and cooling
effectively energy carefully

• No groundwater, and its

associated disadvantages, to
“deal” with
 Energy Piles
Advantages… Disadvantages…

• Utilises building • May not offer optimum

substructure which can conduction
drastically reduce costs • May affect pile cage design
and installation methods
• Does not require any
additional land • Additional (non-structural)
heat exchanger bores may be
required, affecting the
economics

• Little data to prove the theory

in the UK
System using piles in Europe
Energy piles in the UK
Rotary Bored Piles - proven
 CFA Piles – trials only

1000mm to end of cage

200mm

Detail at bottom of cage

Closed Loop Boreholes in the UK

GroenHolland

Roger Bullivant

Members of BDA
Site Investigation
 Research by Newcastle University
To establish relevant ground parameters
to model closed systems;
Initial conclusions;
• Unit weight
• Kaolin has a linear relationship
• Water content between water content and thermal
conductivity
• Void ratio
• A range of soils confirmed a
• Mineralogy quantitative relationship between
mineralogy and thermal conductivity,
• Thermal conductivity noting that range of thermal properties
is narrow compared to other soil
• Specific heat properties
Open and Closed Systems both have
associated pros and cons depending upon:
- Type of building
- Heating and cooling demands
- Geology
- Available land

Questions ?