Initial performance investigation of shared-loops ground source heat pump systems in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus

As global efforts toward energy sustainability increase, Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems have gathered significant attention as a renewable solution for space heating and cooling. The current study focuses on the initial performance investigation of shared-loop GSHP systems in the climatic condition of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island characterized by mild winters and hot summers. Shared-loop configurations, which connect multiple buildings or units to a common ground heat exchanger (GHE), are particularly promising for an urban environment, such as dense populated or space-constrained areas, offering the potential for enhancing efficiency and reducing the initial investment. The shared-loop configuration offers advantages in terms of the reduced infrastructure required and the related costs, with the aim to improve utilization of ground resources. This study investigates theoretical cases, and evaluates the operational performance of shared-loop GSHP systems. The study employs numerical modeling tools, such as TRNSYS, to estimate the heating loads of the users, as well as to assess the system’s capacity. Borehole sizing and ground thermal characteristic, are estimated based on the selected location and from previous experimental data. Preliminary results indicate that shared-loop GSHP systems can achieve a high system efficiency, however concerns are raised related to effectively balancing the thermal loads among users. Additionally, the ability of shared-loop systems to adapt to varying building and climate conditions makes them a flexible and future-proof solution.