Groundwater in flooded abandoned mines could be used for geothermal purposes using heat pumps and an open loop involving pumping and re-injection. Hydraulic conductivity values of the mined rock zones have been artificially increased. However, long-term efficiency and the possible impacts of geothermal doublets must be studied involving a series of hydrogeological challenges.
The study focuses on the overlapping effects of low-enthalpy geothermal plants in urbanized areas, showing the importance of quantifying thermal groundwater exploitation to manage the resource adequately. Geothermal energy connects groundwater use to one of the ever-growing needs nowadays: energy. For low-temperature geothermal, the form of energy we can harness is thermal energy for building heating or cooling, one of the most polluting sectors, representing 34% of CO2 emissions in Europe.
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