A Case Study on the Application of Energy Tunnels in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Shallow geothermal energy systems are known to efficiently provide renewable energy for heating and cooling purposes. Energy geo-structures constitute a relatively recent application of these systems where the use of traditional purpose-made boreholes or trenches as ground heat exchangers (GHEs) is minimised or avoided by incorporating geothermal piping in underground structural elements such as piles, retaining walls and tunnels. This study explores the application of energy tunnels in the M4 – M5 Link project in New South Wales, Australia, which includes the construction of twin motorway tunnels of around 7.5 km in length for up to 4 lanes of traffic. The presented work examines this premi..