{"id":{"repo_id":"reykjavik","oai_identifier":"oai:skemman.is:1946/51624"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/reykjavik/oai:skemman.is:1946/51624","repository":{"repo_id":"reykjavik","name":"Reykjavík University","base_url":"https://skemman.is/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Combating urban heat islands : assessing the potential of open-loop geothermal heat pump systems in Canada","abstract":"Urban aquifers hold significant potential for sustainable space cooling solutions to help address the growing issue of urban heat islands, yet their suitability has remained underexplored. This study presents an assessment of urban aquifer suitability for cooling with groundwater heat pump (GWHP) systems in 10 Canadian cities. A numerical model was then developed for a case study in Québec City to compare the performance and thermal impact of different open-loop geothermal systems. A favourability index in the form of a 5-point rating system was developed to classify aquifer suitability by integrating key hydrogeological properties obtained from field data. Results indicate that Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge have high suitability scores (≥4/5), while Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec City and Saskatoon score moderately (between 3/5 and 4/5). In addition to comparing conventional GWHP and aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) systems, the modeling work also investigates the influence of a free cooling mode. Under the given conditions and assumed building loads, ATES systems perform slightly better than GWHP systems due to more efficient abstraction temperatures from stored thermal energy. Both system types show higher seasonal performance during cooling periods than during heating. Notably, operating with 100% free cooling yields a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 19.1 during cooling while maintaining nearly identical performance during heating and causing minimal thermal impact on the aquifer. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainable potential of open-loop geothermal systems for urban cooling and UHI mitigation in cold climates.","abstract_html":"Urban aquifers hold significant potential for sustainable space cooling solutions to help address the growing issue of urban heat islands, yet their suitability has remained underexplored. This study presents an assessment of urban aquifer suitability for cooling with groundwater heat pump (GWHP) systems in 10 Canadian cities. A numerical model was then developed for a case study in Québec City to compare the performance and thermal impact of different open-loop geothermal systems. A favourability index in the form of a 5-point rating system was developed to classify aquifer suitability by integrating key hydrogeological properties obtained from field data. Results indicate that Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge have high suitability scores (≥4/5), while Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec City and Saskatoon score moderately (between 3/5 and 4/5). In addition to comparing conventional GWHP and aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) systems, the modeling work also investigates the influence of a free cooling mode. Under the given conditions and assumed building loads, ATES systems perform slightly better than GWHP systems due to more efficient abstraction temperatures from stored thermal energy. Both system types show higher seasonal performance during cooling periods than during heating. Notably, operating with 100% free cooling yields a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 19.1 during cooling while maintaining nearly identical performance during heating and causing minimal thermal impact on the aquifer. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainable potential of open-loop geothermal systems for urban cooling and UHI mitigation in cold climates.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Victoria Lee 1995-"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-10-28T10:19:47Z","date_published":"2025-10-28T10:19:47Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:36:46Z","subjects":["Orkuvísindi","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Varmadælur","Sustainable energy science","Heat pumps","Urban heat island"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1946/51624","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Victoria Lee 1995-"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-10-28T10:19:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-10-28T10:19:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-10-28T10:19:47Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Orkuvísindi","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Varmadælur","Sustainable energy science","Heat pumps","Urban heat island"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1946/51624"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Urban aquifers hold significant potential for sustainable space cooling solutions to help address the growing issue of urban heat islands, yet their suitability has remained underexplored. This study presents an assessment of urban aquifer suitability for cooling with groundwater heat pump (GWHP) systems in 10 Canadian cities. A numerical model was then developed for a case study in Québec City to compare the performance and thermal impact of different open-loop geothermal systems. A favourability index in the form of a 5-point rating system was developed to classify aquifer suitability by integrating key hydrogeological properties obtained from field data. Results indicate that Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge have high suitability scores (≥4/5), while Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec City and Saskatoon score moderately (between 3/5 and 4/5). In addition to comparing conventional GWHP and aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) systems, the modeling work also investigates the influence of a free cooling mode. Under the given conditions and assumed building loads, ATES systems perform slightly better than GWHP systems due to more efficient abstraction temperatures from stored thermal energy. Both system types show higher seasonal performance during cooling periods than during heating. Notably, operating with 100% free cooling yields a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 19.1 during cooling while maintaining nearly identical performance during heating and causing minimal thermal impact on the aquifer. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainable potential of open-loop geothermal systems for urban cooling and UHI mitigation in cold climates.","Borgarfiskar hafa mikla möguleika á sjálfbærri loftkælingu til að berjast gegn hitaeyjum í þéttbýli (ICUs), þó að þessi notkun hafi verið lítið rannsökuð fram til þessa. Þessi rannsókn sýnir mat á mikilvægi þess að „nota vatnsfiska til loftræstingar með“ vatnshitavarmadælu (GWHP) kerfum í 10 helstu kanadískum borgum. Tölulegt líkan er síðan þróað fyrir Quebec City til að bera saman afköst og hitauppstreymi mismunandi jarðhitakerfa með opinni lykkju. Hagstæðisvísitala í formi 5 stiga matskerfis var þróuð með því að samþætta vatnsgeðfræðilegar upplýsingar vatnsfalla, sem gerir kleift að flokka borgir. Niðurstöðurnar sýna að Vancouver, Winnipeg og Kitchener / Waterloo / Cambridge skora hátt (≥ 4/5) en þeir í Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa / Gatineau, Quebec City og Saskatoon skora hóflega (milli 3/5 og 4/5). Þar að auki skoðaði líkanagerð áhrif « ókeypis kælingar » (eða « ókeypis loftkæling », það er án þess að nota varmadælu). Geymslukerfi fyrir varmaorku (ATES) vega betur en GWHP afköst þökk sé skilvirkari “aðdráttarhita. Báðar gerðir kerfa sýna betri afköst á sumrin þegar litið er til ókeypis loftkælingar. Hagnýting L 'í ham 100% « ókeypis kæling » gerir kleift að fá árstíðabundinn afköstsstuðul (SPF) frá 19.1, án þess að hafa veruleg 'áhrif á'aquifer. Þessi rannsókn býður upp á áhugaverð sjónarmið um sjálfbæra notkun opinna jarðhitakerfa fyrir loftkælingu í þéttbýli í köldu loftslagi.","Les aquifères urbains présentent un fort potentiel pour une climatisation durable afin de lutter contre les îlots de chaleur urbains (ICU), bien que cette utilisation ait été peu étudiée jusqu’à maintenant. Cette étude présente une évaluation de la pertinence d’utiliser des aquifères pour la climatisation via des systèmes de pompe à chaleur géothermique d’aquifère (GWHP) dans 10 grandes villes canadiennes. Un modèle numérique est ensuite développé pour la ville de Québec afin de comparer la performance et l’impact thermique de différents systèmes géothermiques à boucle ouverte. Un indice de favorabilité sous la forme d’un système de notation sur 5 points a été développé, intégrant l’information hydrogéologiques des aquifères, permettant de classer les villes. Les résultats montrent que Vancouver, Winnipeg et Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge obtiennent des notes élevées (≥4/5), tandis que celles de Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec et Saskatoon sont modérées (entre 3/5 et 4/5). Par ailleurs, les travaux de modélisation ont examiné l’impact du « free cooling » (ou de la « climatisation libre », c’est-à-dire sans utilisation de pompe à chaleur). Les systèmes de stockage d’énergie thermique d’aquifère (ATES) surpassent légèrement la performance des GWHP grâce à des températures d’abstraction plus efficaces. Les deux types de systèmes montrent une meilleure performance en période estivale lors que la climatisation libre est envisagée. L’exploitation en mode 100 % « free cooling » permet d’obtenir un facteur de performance saisonnier (SPF) de 19,1, sans avoir d’impact significatif sur l’aquifère. Cette recherche offre des perspectives intéressantes pour l’utilisation durable des systèmes géothermiques à boucle ouverte pour la climatisation urbaine dans les climats froids."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Combating urban heat islands : assessing the potential of open-loop geothermal heat pump systems in Canada","Samkvæmt úrban-hættu islands : mat á möguleikum opins-loop geothermal heat pump systems í Kanada","Lutter contre les îlots de chaleur urbains : évalution du potentiel des systèmes de pompe à chaleur gèothermique à boucle ouverte au Canada"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"],"dc:creator":["Victoria Lee 1995-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-10-28T10:19:42Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-10-28T10:19:42Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-10-28T10:19:47Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Urban aquifers hold significant potential for sustainable space cooling solutions to help address the growing issue of urban heat islands, yet their suitability has remained underexplored. This study presents an assessment of urban aquifer suitability for cooling with groundwater heat pump (GWHP) systems in 10 Canadian cities. A numerical model was then developed for a case study in Québec City to compare the performance and thermal impact of different open-loop geothermal systems. A favourability index in the form of a 5-point rating system was developed to classify aquifer suitability by integrating key hydrogeological properties obtained from field data. Results indicate that Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge have high suitability scores (≥4/5), while Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec City and Saskatoon score moderately (between 3/5 and 4/5). In addition to comparing conventional GWHP and aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) systems, the modeling work also investigates the influence of a free cooling mode. Under the given conditions and assumed building loads, ATES systems perform slightly better than GWHP systems due to more efficient abstraction temperatures from stored thermal energy. Both system types show higher seasonal performance during cooling periods than during heating. Notably, operating with 100% free cooling yields a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 19.1 during cooling while maintaining nearly identical performance during heating and causing minimal thermal impact on the aquifer. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainable potential of open-loop geothermal systems for urban cooling and UHI mitigation in cold climates.","Borgarfiskar hafa mikla möguleika á sjálfbærri loftkælingu til að berjast gegn hitaeyjum í þéttbýli (ICUs), þó að þessi notkun hafi verið lítið rannsökuð fram til þessa. Þessi rannsókn sýnir mat á mikilvægi þess að „nota vatnsfiska til loftræstingar með“ vatnshitavarmadælu (GWHP) kerfum í 10 helstu kanadískum borgum. Tölulegt líkan er síðan þróað fyrir Quebec City til að bera saman afköst og hitauppstreymi mismunandi jarðhitakerfa með opinni lykkju. Hagstæðisvísitala í formi 5 stiga matskerfis var þróuð með því að samþætta vatnsgeðfræðilegar upplýsingar vatnsfalla, sem gerir kleift að flokka borgir. Niðurstöðurnar sýna að Vancouver, Winnipeg og Kitchener / Waterloo / Cambridge skora hátt (≥ 4/5) en þeir í Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa / Gatineau, Quebec City og Saskatoon skora hóflega (milli 3/5 og 4/5). Þar að auki skoðaði líkanagerð áhrif « ókeypis kælingar » (eða « ókeypis loftkæling », það er án þess að nota varmadælu). Geymslukerfi fyrir varmaorku (ATES) vega betur en GWHP afköst þökk sé skilvirkari “aðdráttarhita. Báðar gerðir kerfa sýna betri afköst á sumrin þegar litið er til ókeypis loftkælingar. Hagnýting L 'í ham 100% « ókeypis kæling » gerir kleift að fá árstíðabundinn afköstsstuðul (SPF) frá 19.1, án þess að hafa veruleg 'áhrif á'aquifer. Þessi rannsókn býður upp á áhugaverð sjónarmið um sjálfbæra notkun opinna jarðhitakerfa fyrir loftkælingu í þéttbýli í köldu loftslagi.","Les aquifères urbains présentent un fort potentiel pour une climatisation durable afin de lutter contre les îlots de chaleur urbains (ICU), bien que cette utilisation ait été peu étudiée jusqu’à maintenant. Cette étude présente une évaluation de la pertinence d’utiliser des aquifères pour la climatisation via des systèmes de pompe à chaleur géothermique d’aquifère (GWHP) dans 10 grandes villes canadiennes. Un modèle numérique est ensuite développé pour la ville de Québec afin de comparer la performance et l’impact thermique de différents systèmes géothermiques à boucle ouverte. Un indice de favorabilité sous la forme d’un système de notation sur 5 points a été développé, intégrant l’information hydrogéologiques des aquifères, permettant de classer les villes. Les résultats montrent que Vancouver, Winnipeg et Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge obtiennent des notes élevées (≥4/5), tandis que celles de Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa/Gatineau, Québec et Saskatoon sont modérées (entre 3/5 et 4/5). Par ailleurs, les travaux de modélisation ont examiné l’impact du « free cooling » (ou de la « climatisation libre », c’est-à-dire sans utilisation de pompe à chaleur). Les systèmes de stockage d’énergie thermique d’aquifère (ATES) surpassent légèrement la performance des GWHP grâce à des températures d’abstraction plus efficaces. Les deux types de systèmes montrent une meilleure performance en période estivale lors que la climatisation libre est envisagée. L’exploitation en mode 100 % « free cooling » permet d’obtenir un facteur de performance saisonnier (SPF) de 19,1, sans avoir d’impact significatif sur l’aquifère. Cette recherche offre des perspectives intéressantes pour l’utilisation durable des systèmes géothermiques à boucle ouverte pour la climatisation urbaine dans les climats froids."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1946/51624"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:subject":["Orkuvísindi","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Varmadælur","Sustainable energy science","Heat pumps","Urban heat island"],"dc:title":["Combating urban heat islands : assessing the potential of open-loop geothermal heat pump systems in Canada","Samkvæmt úrban-hættu islands : mat á möguleikum opins-loop geothermal heat pump systems í Kanada","Lutter contre les îlots de chaleur urbains : évalution du potentiel des systèmes de pompe à chaleur gèothermique à boucle ouverte au Canada"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:36:46Z"}