City-scale perspective for thermoactive structures in Warsaw

Abstract

This paper presents the current conditions of and perspective on development of the use of shallow geothermal energy as a renewable energy source in highly urbanised areas in Poland, using the Warsaw municipality as an example. The type of geothermal energy source considered in the paper is the thermoactive foundation elements of high-rise buildings and underground structures. The rising demand for new office, commercial and housing spaces in Warsaw fosters the development of new engineering projects, mostly involving deep foundations and structural elements well suited for shallow geothermal energy utilisation. In this study, the preliminary assessment has been made, considering the city-scale impact of the thermoactive foundations. New as well as planned construction areas for new engineering projects in Warsaw were evaluated on the basis of spatial management plans and analysis of local geotechnical and geothermal conditions. Furthermore, the legal issues concerning the use of thermoactive foundations are discussed, considering the current state of the national regulations and the typical construction process.