Shallow geothermal energy

Shallow geothermal energy includes geothermal probes or geothermal loop systems and use of groundwater heat, as well as energy piles and geostructures. Shallow geothermal energy penetrates no more than 400 meters into the subsoil (BMU Brochure "Tiefe Geothermie - Nutzungsmöglichkeiten in Deutschland"") and makes use of layers with temperatures of between 8°C and 20°C (SFOE Brochure "Nutzung der Erdwärme").

Geothermal probes are most frequently used to operate heat pumps that obtain heat from the earth, air, or water. Shallow geothermal energy with geothermal probes can be used to heat buildings and prepare hot water, whereby pumps of this kind additionally require electricity. A heat pump is based on the principle of a reverse refrigerator, also needing a supply of energy (a more detailed description can be found on the website of the Fachvereinigung für Wärmepumpen Schweiz [Swiss heat pump association]. Provided a depth of around 200 meters is not exceeded, geothermal probes can also be used to cool buildings in summer (St. Galler Stadtwerke "Ökologische Energie aus der Tiefe").

Induced earthquakes are not an issue in shallow geothermal energy due to the shallow depth and generally closed systems.