Is Ground Source Heat Pump the Future of Space Cooling in Southeast Asia?

Abstract

The rapid economic growth of Southeast Asian countries is followed by accelerated population and energy demand growth. On the other hand, the region still relies heavily on fossil fuels as the primary source of electricity. As a result, there is a growing concern about future regional energy sustainability. Space cooling has become one of the fastest-growing energy sectors. Introducing a new space cooling technology capable of providing a higher thermal efficiency can be an alternative solution. The Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) is a proven technology to reduce the required energy for space cooling and heating in four-season countries. However, its performance in the tropical climate is still questionable. This paper describes the challenges of GSHP application in tropical climates, such as in Southeast Asia. The research conducted to investigate the suitability of GSHP system application in Southeast Asia is also discussed. While more data are being gathered from several GSHP pilot tests in Vietnam and Thailand, the short to medium-term performance data analysis shows its advantages over the conventional Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) or standard air conditioner. However, extensive research is still required to evaluate its long-term performance and the financial advantages over the ASHP.