| Title | The Shallow Geothermal Energy Potential of Lagoa Municipality (S. Miguel Island, Azores): A Preliminary Evaluation |
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| Authors | Mafalda Miranda |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | G.POT method, GIS, geothermal heat pumps, ground thermal properties, Portugal |
| Abstract | S. Miguel (Azores) has a long and rich history of using their deep geothermal resources to generate electricity. Currently, around 40% of the island's electricity needs are met by geothermal energy, fed by a deep-seated liquid dominated geothermal natural reservoir. Geothermal heat pump systems could be a significant addition to the island's energy portfolio, helping to displace the electricity consumed by heating and cooling applications. However, the shallow geothermal energy potential of the island is still unknown. Therefore, a preliminary evaluation was carried out using the municipality of Lagoa as a case-study. The G.POT method was used to estimate the thermal energy that could be extracted from the ground during the heating season and injected in the ground in the summer period. Despite the current uncertainties, this study shows that a 50 m deep borehole heat exchanger could extract about 8 MWh/year of thermal energy from the ground and inject about 3 MWh/year in the ground. This preliminary analysis outlines the significant shallow geothermal energy potential of Lagoa municipality, and it is worth investigating further to improve the estimates. |