| Title | Assessing the Potential of the Gas-to-Geo Concept in Densely Populated Areas of Catalonia (Spain), Southern Europe: Insights from a Novel GIS-Based Methodology |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jordi García-Céspedes |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | 5GDHC, Gas-to-Geo, Heating and Cooling, Shallow Geothermal, SPF, LCOH, G.POT |
| Abstract | The Gas-to-Geo concept, originally coined by the non-profit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) in the USA, is gaining traction as a viable pathway to decarbonise heating systems while enabling cooling through the same infrastructure, by replacing piped natural gas with decentralised, ambient-temperature geothermal networks. Building on previous work, this study presents a detailed application of a GIS-based methodology developed to assess the potential of shallow geothermal energy (SGE) within fifth-generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) networks to meet the heating and cooling (H&C) demands of residential and tertiary buildings in Catalonia (NE Spain). Rather than focusing solely on regional-scale indicators, several representative municipalities were selected in order to test the robustness and transferability of the method under contrasting climatic conditions and population densities. In each case, a comparative analysis was carried out, evaluating theoretical H&C demand coverage, available land for closed-loop borehole heat exchangers (BHEs), suitability for open-loop systems, estimated seasonal performance factors (SPFs) and levelised cost of heat (LCOH). Results show that while deployment conditions vary significantly, the methodology provides realistic boundaries for identifying viable Gas-to-Geo strategies under local constraints. Moreover, 5GDHC networks demonstrate the capacity to balance geothermal potential across urban areas with heterogeneous H&C demand and spatial availability for BHE implementation, reinforcing their role as a transition infrastructure. This approach offers valuable insights for the integration of SGE into the planning of densely populated regions undergoing energy transition. |