Geothermics最新文献

{"title":"Machine learning-based assessment of medium-deep geothermal energy potential in five chinese cities","authors":"Guosheng Jia,&nbsp;Jianke Hao,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Peng,&nbsp;Pei Wang,&nbsp;Zhibin Zhang,&nbsp;Meng Zhang,&nbsp;Liwen Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition toward sustainable building heating is vital for achieving carbon neutrality. Medium-deep borehole heat exchanger (BHE) systems provide a promising geothermal solution, but large-scale planning is hindered by the high computational demand of traditional simulations for performance prediction across diverse geologies. This study integrates machine learning (ML) algorithms with a validated finite-volume model to develop an efficient framework for evaluating the long-term thermal performance and potential of BHEs. Focusing on five major Chinese cities (Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, and Shaanxi), the framework analyzes the impact of key geological and operating parameters (depth: 2000–3000 m; flow rate: 20–40 m³/h; inlet temperature: 5–20 °C). Among three ML algorithms—Levenberg-Marquardt (LM), Bayesian Regularization (BR), and Quantized Conjugate Gradient (QCG)—the LM algorithm achieved superior accuracy (MSE = 3.0261, <em>R</em> = 0.99965) and robustness against overfitting. Regional analysis highlights the crucial influence of local geology. Henan exhibits the highest heat extraction (235.5 kW) with moderate 10-year decay (5.0 %), while Shaanxi shows the steepest decline. Economically, geothermal deployment can reduce heating costs by 60–95 % and CO₂ emissions by 73–89 % compared to conventional coal systems. This ML-driven framework provides rapid, data-informed decision-making for low-carbon heating investment and geothermal integration in sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103578"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design optimization of Deep Borehole Heat Exchangers (DBHEs) for well retrofitting","authors":"Lingkan Finna Christi ,&nbsp;Mrityunjay Singh ,&nbsp;Ingo Sass ,&nbsp;Ben Norden ,&nbsp;Günter Zimmermann ,&nbsp;Maximilian Frick ,&nbsp;Monika Hölzel ,&nbsp;Hannes Hofmann","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study demonstrates the potential of Deep Borehole Heat Exchangers (DBHEs) technology to unlock low-risk, cost-effective geothermal energy in Groß Schönebeck by repurposing existing wells. The well doublet features approximately 1.5 km of the Zechstein formation, a thermally conductive and impermeable formation ideal for DBHE applications. A numerical simulation using CMG STARS was used to optimize the installation of a DBHE to a depth of 3800 m MD. At this completion depth, both wells achieved thermal power ranging from 500–750 kilowatts (kW) and outlet temperatures in the range of 49–67 °C with the flow rates ranging from 10 to 25 m³ <!-->h⁻¹ and inlet temperatures between 10–25 °C. With the model, we explored the relationship between tubing dimensions and materials, as well as the impact of varying operational parameters on the performance of the DBHEs. Our analysis confirms direct heating is the most suitable application, with a Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH) of 7-14 ct €/kWh within the given operational parameters. While electricity generation is not feasible, the study highlights a cost-effective, low-risk geothermal heating solution by repurposing existing wells as DBHEs. Key requirements include deployment of minimum 2.88”/2.44” (OD/ID) vacuum-insulated tubing (or equivalent) with low thermal conductivity (<span><math><mo>≤</mo></math></span> 0.06<!--> <!-->W<!--> <!-->m⁻¹ <!-->K⁻¹), and subsequent field validation of heat transfer parameters. This approach minimizes investment and risk by utilizing existing infrastructure, but requires close proximity between the heat source and the consumer. Future research and feasibility studies should prioritize well integrity and seamless integration with surface infrastructure and district heating networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103580"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal properties of the lower continental crust: Variabilities and link to other rock properties based on DIVE drill cores and boreholes (Ivrea-Verbano Zone)","authors":"Kim Lemke ,&nbsp;György Hetényi ,&nbsp;Alexia Secrétan ,&nbsp;Junjian Li ,&nbsp;Andrew Greenwood ,&nbsp;Eva Caspari ,&nbsp;Christoph Schmidt ,&nbsp;Georgina King ,&nbsp;Ueli Schärli ,&nbsp;Ludovic Baron ,&nbsp;Othmar Müntener","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scarcity of thermal property data on lower crustal rocks and their variability is a major hindrance in constraining the continental geotherm. As part of the ICDP project DIVE, two boreholes have recently sampled 1.5 km of rocks across a lower crustal metasedimentary and a mafic-ultramafic section of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone. Complete drill core recovery and borehole logging allowed us to generate a new, representative dataset of thermal properties ranging from high-resolution measurements to larger scale profiles. Thermal conductivity under ambient conditions varies considerably within every lithology type: felsic lithologies are more variable and show higher averages (∼3.0 W/(m⋅K)) than mafic lithologies (∼2.4 W/(m⋅K)). Radiogenic heat production is generally low and varies considerably between mafic-ultramafic lithologies (∼0.05 µW/m³), felsic lithologies and granulite-facies metasediments (∼0.5 µW/m³), and amphibolite-facies metasediments (∼1.5 µW/m³). Overall, metasediments are the largest contributor to the heat budget of the lower crust, where heat production seems to be related to the protolith, not to the metamorphic grade. Measurements of specific heat capacity, density, and thermal diffusivity also reveal primary differences between felsic and mafic lithologies. There is an inverse semi-logarithmic correlation between density and heat production. The variability of all measured thermal properties is significant at all spatial scales, and increases with increasing scales. Thermal conductivity and diffusivity vary by a factor of ca. 4 within each borehole, and heat production by a factor of 10 between the boreholes. These findings prompt for detailed sampling and comprehensive assessment of thermal property variabilities for applications involving the thermal field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103564"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of geothermal resource potential based on GIS information-driven model: A case study of the Songyuan, China","authors":"Ge Wang ,&nbsp;Changlai Xiao ,&nbsp;Xiujuan Liang ,&nbsp;Qinghai Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The enrichment of geothermal water resources is constrained by numerous factors. To avoid the waste of human, material, and resource costs caused by uninformed exploitation, it is essential to rationally delineate zones with potential geothermal water resources. This paper takes the mid-deep layered geothermal reservoir in Songyuan City, China, as an example. Based on geothermal geological conditions, geophysical conditions, circulation conditions, and heat source conditions, a multi-information-driven model was adopted to identify potential geothermal areas. Based on the factor independence test, the dataset of factors for this study was determined as follows: The Gutenberg-Lister B values, distance to faults, distance to the major grabens, land surface temperature, distance to the water system, and distance to the basement faults. Based on the geographic information system (GIS) supported the traditional information-driven model and the improved weighted information-driven model, the geothermal prediction maps were established using the impact factors maps. The prediction maps categorized the potential geothermal areas in Songyuan City into three levels: better potential area, medium potential area, and poor potential area. The better potential areas of the two models accounted for 10% and 12.4% of the total area, respectively, and are primarily located in the central-western sector, notably in the vicinity of Qian'an County and Ningjiang County. Furthermore, uncertainty analysis indicates that the two information-driven models exhibit a high level of consistency in over 97% of the region, with observable uncertainties confined mainly to the areas along the Second Songhua River and the northern mainstream of the Songhua River. The model comparison results show that the improved weighted information-driven model proposed in this study provides more accurate evaluation results than the traditional information-driven model. This study is expected to provide a foundational framework for the development and utilization of geothermal resources in Songyuan City, while also offering further exploration directions for medium-deep geothermal surveys at a regional scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103587"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal conductivity of soils: A simplified unit cell model","authors":"Zhaoxiang Chu ,&nbsp;Xiaojiang Zang ,&nbsp;Xiaozhao Li ,&nbsp;Peng He ,&nbsp;Guosheng Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, a novel unit cell model based on an approximate regular-triangular prism and quasi-inscribed sphere configuration was developed to estimate the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of a porous or granular geomaterial, with particular emphasis on soils. At the meso‑pore-particle scale, the liquid phase in soils is modeled as capillary water, with the solid particles approximated as quasi-spheres and the gas phase represented as residual space-filling bodies embedded within a trigonal prismatic unit cell. Consequently, a comprehensive theoretical framework was rigorously developed through the application of the lumped parameter thermo-electric analogy method, resulting in an explicit analytical expression for the ETC of porous and granular geomaterials. This innovative model addresses the inherent spatial correction limitations associated with conventional spherical and cylindrical unit cells employed in previous upscaling methodologies. It allows to evaluate the ETC of soils with porosity in the range of [0.395 to 0.597] at all degrees of saturation from 0 to 1. The new model was compared and validated against other cellular models and experimental data; subsequent modifications demonstrate acceptable accuracy. Moreover, a promising initiative, i.e. evaluate the effects of multiphase component and porous/granular structure on the ETC of geomaterials from an evolutionary perspective, was conjectured based on pore/particle and pore water morphology/ distribution, offering a new way of investigating the macroscopic behaviors of complex geomaterials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103576"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multicomponent solute geothermometry coupled with geochemical modeling of secondary processes in thermal waters from volcanic islands as a versatile tool for geothermal exploration. Insights from La Palma (Canary Islands)","authors":"Jon Jiménez ,&nbsp;Miguel Ángel Marazuela ,&nbsp;Luis F. Auqué ,&nbsp;Carlos Baquedano ,&nbsp;Jorge Martínez-León ,&nbsp;Samanta Gasco-Cavero ,&nbsp;Juan C. Santamarta ,&nbsp;Alejandro García-Gil","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing need to utilise geothermal resources for power generation has intensified the exploration of hotspot volcanic islands in recent decades. Thermal springs represent valuable natural laboratories for applying geothermometry to infer reservoir temperatures. Yet, secondary hydrochemical processes during fluid ascent, such as mixing or CO₂ exchange, often limit the applicability of geothermometry and must be addressed. On La Palma (Canary Islands), the Fuente Santa thermal ponds provide a unique discharge in the archipelago for testing these approaches. Geothermometric calculations for Fuente Santa were carried out using classical chemical geothermometers and multicomponent solute geothermometry simulations with PHREEQC. Simulations evaluated the impact of key hydrochemical processes in the system: (i) mixing with seawater and freshwater, (ii) CO₂ loss, (iii) mineral re-equilibration, and (iv) steam loss. The multicomponent modeling, which reconstructed the absolute thermal end-member by sensitivity analysis of saturation index convergence and extrapolation of the mixing path, yielded reservoir temperatures of 158–172 °C. The likely equilibrium mineral assemblage included quartz, mordenite, kaolinite, natrolite, and wairakite. This temperature range was narrower and more reliable than those inferred from silica and Na–K geothermometers (128–160 °C), underscoring the importance of accounting for hydrochemical alterations. The study highlights that reframing the ternary mixing problem into a simplified binary mixing, coupled with systematic sensitivity analysis of CO₂ and steam loss and secondary mineral equilibration, provides a more robust framework for multicomponent solute geothermometry. Such an integrated approach aims to enhance the accuracy of reservoir temperature estimates in complex geothermal systems in volcanic islands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103583"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An inversion method to estimate thermal breakthrough time using thermo-sensitive tracer in reservoirs with highly heterogeneous permeability","authors":"Dejian Zhou ,&nbsp;Quan Liu ,&nbsp;Huhao Gao ,&nbsp;Alexandru Tatomir ,&nbsp;Martin Sauter","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermo-sensitive (TS) tracers offer significant potential for enhancing the understanding of heat transfer in porous media and ascertaining financial revenues by reducing reservoir lifetime prediction uncertainty. Based on the demonstrated feasibility of TS tracers for estimating the thermal front positions in homogeneous systems, the study expands the application of TS tracers to heterogeneous conditions. Assuming that heat and tracers follow the same preferential flow pathways, we derived an analytical solution to estimate the thermal breakthrough time in the reservoir with highly heterogeneous permeability. The analytical estimates are validated against the simulation results. The findings show a strong agreement on thermal breakthrough time, with a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.99, between the analytical estimates and simulation results. Additionally, the estimation accuracy remains robust across a wider range of injection and reservoir conditions, including the variation of injection rate, temperature, and reservoir porosity. However, the reliability of this approach critically relies on the ability to accurately interpret the tracer concentration breakthrough curve. The TS tracer technology demonstrates high feasibility only when the breakthrough curve can be effectively deconvoluted into contributions from individual preferential flow pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103586"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of differences between deep and shallow geothermal fields in the Jiyang depression under tectonic-thermophysical coupling","authors":"Xiang Yu ,&nbsp;Zhongfeng Duan ,&nbsp;Fulai Li ,&nbsp;Yonghong Yang ,&nbsp;Fangyu Dong ,&nbsp;Yingbin Cui ,&nbsp;Yunhua Chen ,&nbsp;Lianghao Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hot dry rock (HDR), as the core carrier of enhanced geothermal systems, is a key strategic resource in the global energy transition due to its advantages of high temperature and wide distribution. It can be used to address energy crises and achieve \"double carbon\" goals. However, the current selection of HDR areas based on shallow geothermal field indicators has obvious defects. Currently studies mostly infer the deep temperature field from shallow data, ignoring the deep heat accumulation mechanism. This leads to significant errors in structurally complex areas and makes it difficult to accurately identify favorable deep HDR areas. In view of this, taking the Jiyang Depression as the research object, through core thermophysical property testing, drilling system temperature measurement, and two-dimensional heat conduction-radiogenic heat production coupling simulation. Its reveals the geological-thermophysical control mechanism behind the differences between deep and shallow geothermal fields, and proposes an HDR selection method. The study finds that the formation thermal conductivity and radiogenic heat production rate in the Jiyang Depression exhibit spatial differentiation, which is controlled by lithology and formation assemblage. Terrestrial heat flow varies from 52.9 to 81.5 mW/m², averaging of 65.8±5.4 mW/m², while the geothermal gradient averages 35.5°C/km. The Jiyang Depression generally shows the characteristics of a \"hot basin\", within the geothermal field being significantly affected by the tectonic framework in both vertical and planar directions. The differences between deep and shallow geothermal fields are jointly controlled by \"tectonic undulation-lithological assemblage-heat source contribution\", presenting the inverse of the \"shallow high and deep low principle in uplift areas, and the inverse of the shallow low and deep high principle in sag areas\". Furthermore, a new HDR selection framework on\" vertical geothermal field characteristics-tectonic heat accumulation mechanism\" is proposed, and it is clarified that the deep part of sag areas is the key area for HDR selection. This study theoretically enriches the regional geothermal geological theory , providing new methods and a scientific basis for HDR resource exploration in the Jiyang Depression and similar areas. This is significance for promoting the development and utilization of HDR resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103584"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental insights into phase change energy walls for enhanced thermal stability and efficiency beyond conventional energy walls","authors":"Pengju Chen ,&nbsp;Chenglong Wang ,&nbsp;Abdelmalek Bouazza ,&nbsp;Xuanming Ding ,&nbsp;Gangqiang Kong","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study experimentally compares the thermal responses of Phase Change Energy Walls (PEW) and Conventional Energy Walls (CEW) under heating–recovery conditions. Results show that compared with CEW, PEW effectively moderated fluctuations, with average reductions of 3.44 % during heating and 5.71 % during cooling. Over a 24-hour condition (12 h of heating and 12 h of recovery), PEW substantially mitigated thermal accumulation. Post-operation temperature rises were markedly lower in PEW (ΔT = 0.5–2.0 °C) than in CEW (ΔT = 2.1–3.5 °C), corresponding to reductions of 42.9–79.2 %. The improved thermal regulation stems from the incorporation of PCM (CA-MA, <em>T</em> = 19.5 °C), which absorbs latent heat during heating (solid–liquid transition) and releases it during cooling (liquid–solid transition), thereby delaying the temperature rise and accelerating dissipation. Temporal analysis revealed that &gt;40 % of wall and soil temperature changes occurred within the first 12 h, highlighting this period as optimal for heat exchange. PEW also enhanced wall–soil interaction, inducing 7–30 % greater variation in soil temperature. These findings confirm that PEW reduces thermal swings, suppresses accumulation, and improves geothermal wall efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103573"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geothermal drying in agricultural sector - worldwide examples","authors":"Barbara Tomaszewska ,&nbsp;Alper Baba ,&nbsp;Gulden Gokcen Akkurt ,&nbsp;Mentari Mukti ,&nbsp;H. Utku Helvaci ,&nbsp;Bogusław Bielec ,&nbsp;Magdalena Tyszer ,&nbsp;Nalan Kabay ,&nbsp;Michał Kaczmarczyk ,&nbsp;Beata Kępińska ,&nbsp;Agnieszka Operacz","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural drying is traditionally used to preserve fruits and vegetables which mostly relied on energy-intensive processes usually powered by fossil fuels. In this review, we explore an innovative and sustainable alternative: using geothermal energy to dry produce. The paper reviews the main technical aspects related to the use of geothermal energy in drying fruits and vegetables. We delve into the technical details of two leading methods, hot air drying and refractive window drying, highlighting their advantages, drawbacks, and the critical factors that influence the quality of the final product. By examining real-world applications from countries as diverse as Iceland, the USA, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Kenya, Serbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Poland, and the Philippines, this paper showcases how geothermal energy can be directly applied in drying operations—whether through standalone systems operating between 60 °C and 97 °C or integrated cascade systems wherever geothermal resources are used for power generation and in the form of the waste heat for drying purposes, can be considered as important direction. Due to a lack of actual information on the economic aspects of geothermal drying, in addition to outlining the technical merits of geothermal drying, we also discuss economic considerations and potential challenges to provide a roadmap for future projects. Moreover, the authors underlined several aspects that can contribute to the failure or limited success of geothermal drying projects. Ultimately, adopting geothermal drying not only reduces greenhouse gases (GHS) emissions but also lessens dependence on costly, polluting fossil fuels, paving the way for a greener, more energy-efficient future in food preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 103582"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}