Environmental benefits with shared-loop ground source heat pump systems compared to Air source heat pumps systems

With the demand for sustainable and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems increasing, Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) systems. Unlike standalone GSHP systems, shared-loop configurations optimize ground heat exchanger (GHE) usage by balancing heating and cooling demands across multiple users, thereby improving overall system efficiency. The current study investigates the environmental advantages of using a shared-loop GSHP system, compared to ASHP systems, through a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach in terms of CO2-equivalent emissions. The LCA analysis considers different climate zones and the sizing of the shared boreholes is estimated based on peak shaving and the available surface area. The environmental evaluation is conducted using the openLCA software and ReCiPe as the impact assessment method, with the implementation of the Ecoinvent database. The obtained results demonstrate that shared-loop GSHP systems offer lower emissions over conventional systems, particularly in scenarios with high heating demands and in regions with moderate to extreme climates. Additionally, the systems are highly dependent on the electricity mix of the area, as in the case of stand-alone GSHP systems. While both systems contribute toward the renewable energy transition, wider benefits should be considered under a range of conditions.