Anthropogenic heat input into the subsurface: Influencing factors and its importance during shallow geothermal impact assessment

The presented study focuses on quantifying the impact of the anthropogenic heat input from residential buildings on the subsurface temperature regime, employing an innovative approach that combines building physics simulations with heat and groundwater flow modelling. To enhance the applicability of the approach, sensitivity analyses of various parameters that govern the heat transfer from the investigated buildings are performed. The investigated parameters took hydrogeological and meteorological conditions, building properties (including different insulation standards and building types) as well as petrophysical rock properties into account.

The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the subsurface temperature regimes within densely settled areas, which is particular significant for the impact assessment of shallow geothermal applications. Results of the study show that neglecting anthropogenic heat input may lead to an underestimation of the effects of shallow geothermal applications on the underground temperatures.