This PhD course is part of the thematic path "Technologies, Techniques and Methodologies for Sustainable Development" of the PhD programme in Urban and Regional Development. The energy sector in Europe has traditionally been the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Increasing the share of renewable energy is essential for the European Union (EU) to meet its climate goals, which include cutting emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Geothermal energy, as a stable and reliable renewable source, represents a valuable solution in urban planning to address modern cities' environmental and energy challenges. It can be used for electricity generation and direct heating, providing a low-carbon alternative, especially in regions with suitable geothermal resources. Low-enthalpy geothermal systems can be integrated with existing infrastructure, such as residential, commercial, and public buildings, with minimal modifications required to the existing structures. This makes it easier to adopt such geothermal solutions in already-developed urban areas. The proposed course explores the potential applications and diffusion of various types of geothermal systems for heating and cooling buildings, considering the specific geological context of the urban centres. Students will gain knowledge about different existing geothermal technologies and technical skills useful for assessing their application potential, associated environmental and economic benefits, and the challenges related to their integration into existing urban policies. Real-world case studies will also be examined to understand the effectiveness and efficiency of these systems. Expected Learning Outcomes At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge about: • Fundamental principles of Earth Science: The Earth's internal and external structure, the origin and propagation of Earth's heat, and the various methodologies for exploiting geothermal resources. • Fundamental concepts from the existing European, National, and Regional regulatory frameworks. • Main technologies for exploiting low-enthalpy geothermal energy resources. At the end of the course, students will have acquired the ability to: • Analyse the opportunities and challenges of implementing low-enthalpy geothermal systems. • Evaluate geothermal systems' environmental impact and energy efficiency compared to other climate control solutions. • Apply simplified methods for sizing and designing geothermal systems for urban buildings.

Preliminary knowledge of earth sciences, fundamentals of mathematics, and physics.

The course is subdivided into three main sections: Module 1 (2h): INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Earth system and internal structure, continental drift, plate tectonics, heat transport mechanisms, geothermal gradient and the heat flux, energy potential and evaluation criteria. Module 2 (3h): LOW ENTHALPY GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS The thermal properties of the ground, ground-source heat pump systems, open-loop geothermal systems, and closed-loop geothermal systems (design, performance, characteristics) Module 3 (1h): REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS Module 4 (6h): DESIGN OF GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS: SIMPLIFIED APPROACHES, TOOLS, SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGIES Module 5 (3h): Case studies and best practices: examples of implementation in various geological and hydrogeological contexts Lessons and exercises will be held in plenary sessions. The course is organised as follows: 6 hours are dedicated to lectures on basic theoretical aspects and 6 hours to practical exercises. 3-hour laboratory work, group projects, and case study discussions. Technical visits can be planned for the in-situ observation of systems.

On site

Oral presentation

P.D.2-2 - June