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The University of Michigan is exploring a deeper methodology for geoexchange technology that has the potential to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of renewable heating and cooling across the campus.
Rather than utilizing traditional water-well drilling equipment, teams are employing oil and gas drilling methods to set up a closed-loop system further below the ground.
Teams are drilling a test borehole that can reach a depth of 1,600 feet—slightly more than four football fields end-to-end. This depth is approximately double that of standard geoexchange bores, which generally reach around 800 feet. Such test bores are a customary part of developing new geoexchange systems, enabling engineers to evaluate subsurface conditions and performance prior to full-scale implementation. The findings will assist in assessing the university’s potential for eco-friendly heating and cooling.
The test bore is an essential phase in verifying new technological methods and confirming performance. Information collected during the test will guide U-M’s strategy to achieve aggressive climate action objectives, as highlighted by the Campus Plan 2050 ambitions to modernize and decarbonize district-scale heating and cooling infrastructures.
“Through this initiative, the University of Michigan is not only committing to renewable-powered, highly efficient heating and cooling technologies, but also investigating innovative methods that could expedite our long-term energy transformation efforts,” stated Shana Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability. “If successful, the methods we’re trialing today are set to influence similar initiatives locally and nationwide.”
In contrast to conventional fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling, geoexchange systems utilize ground-sourced heat pumps that depend on the Earth’s stable subterranean temperatures to transfer heat into and out of buildings. Enclosed or “closed-loop” piping conveys heat to the surrounding rock through conduction, without interacting with groundwater. During summer, excess heat is stored underground, and in winter, that stored heat is retrieved, allowing the heat pumps to function with much greater efficiency throughout the year.
Geoexchange systems generally deliver more heating and cooling per energy unit input than traditional systems, assisting the university in achieving its efficiency and carbon neutrality objectives. The precise performance efficiencies of each geoexchange project are determined during the planning stages.
Beyond efficiency, geoexchange systems enhance local air quality by reducing dependence on natural gas. They also demand significantly less water than conventional cooling towers, implying that the campus-wide transition will yield considerable water savings as more systems come into operation.
Utilizing stable subterranean temperatures makes geoexchange a highly effective alternative to traditional heating and cooling, serving as a vital technology in the university’s strategy to enhance local air quality, minimize water usage, and eradicate on-campus greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1) by 2040.
The borehole test will empower engineers to gauge thermal energy performance at increased depths, which are anticipated to have even higher efficiency potential. Results are expected later this fall and will inform decisions regarding future geoexchange implementation on campus.
“The test well provides us with essential data to comprehend the limits and possibilities of deeper geoexchange boring technologies necessary to support our long-term carbon neutrality objectives. It exemplifies our function as a living learning laboratory, evaluating real-world solutions and disseminating our findings,” remarked Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
The terms “geothermal” and “geoexchange” are frequently used interchangeably, yet they possess distinct meanings. Geothermal systems generate electricity by accessing the Earth’s high-temperature and high-pressure geological “hot spots,” typically found along tectonic plates. In contrast, geoexchange systems are broadly applicable and utilize the stable temperatures of rock layers that are relatively close to the surface to heat and cool structures. U-M’s systems are closed-loop, indicating that water is confined within the piping and never interacts with groundwater.
This test borehole builds upon the university’s other recent geoexchange endeavors, including the Hayward Street system on North Campus (99 borings at 700 feet) and the Ginsberg Building system (eight borings at 535 feet). Both the Central Campus residential development presently under construction, featuring over 80 borings at a depth of 800 feet, and the Ginsberg Building are seeking LEED Platinum certification, partially based on the contribution of geoexchange systems.
Together, these initiatives progress U-M’s mission toward large-scale, all-electric campus facilities contemplated as part of Campus Plan 2050. Heating buildings during frigid Michigan winters demands considerable energy, and the cooling requirements are increasingly significant. Transitioning to efficient, electric-driven geoexchange systems powered by renewable energy is a crucial strategy for diminishing the university’s dependency on fossil fuels. By transferring heat from where it is dispersed to where it is required, geoexchange systems are particularly effective for a campus with diverse building types and energy requirements.
“Sustainability is incredibly vital for our students and the campus community,” expressed Kambiz Khalili, associate vice president of student life. “We aim to design and build structures that cater to the needs of current and future Wolverines. Collaborating across campus units enables our buildings to be at the forefront of efficiency and sustainability, to respond to the present and inspire others to seek solutions from Michigan.”
The initiative also mirrors U-M’s broader approach to sustainability: integrating innovation into campus planning, research, and operations, thereby providing practical learning opportunities. Students, faculty, and staff have had the chance to observe this technology in practice, witnessing firsthand how the university tests and implements advanced energy solutions.
Walbridge, a Michigan-based construction and engineering firm, is conducting the borehole test in partnership with CUDD Pressure Control.
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