DOE Report Confirms Positive Impact of Mass Geothermal Heat Pump Deployment

Last August, we began a new blog series with the bold assertion that “Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHPs) are destined to play a significant role in the decarbonization (and accompanying electrification) of the United States and many other parts of the world.” Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced findings from a study that offers robust confirmation that this statement is true.

The 101-page study, prepared by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the DOE, concluded that a mass retrofit of 70% of U.S. buildings with geothermal heat pumps could reduce electricity consumption by up to 13% by 2050 when coupled with building envelope improvements.

The study, based on a large-scale building stock energy simulation, also suggests that mass deployment of GHPs would achieve the following by 2050:

• Eliminate more than seven gigatons of carbon

• Reduce wholesale costs for electric grid services by at least $300 billion through 2050.

• Reduce consumer costs for heating fuels, saving $19 billion per year.

• A massive reduction in transmission requirements (up to 38%)

• Improve operational reliability of power grids during extreme weather events.

According to Alejandro Moreno, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “This report confirms that geothermal heat pumps are a ready-made strategy for decarbonizing our buildings while reducing the need for new electricity generation and transmission and bringing energy savings to Americans nationwide—all while creating U.S. jobs.”

It is important to note that the study is specific to GHPs, which have a 4.0 COP, compared to non-geothermal WSHPs, which have a COP of 3.7. The study, entitled Grid Cost and Total Emissions Reductions Through Mass Deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Heating and Cooling Electrification in the United States, can be accessed here.