Integrating microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) in geothermal pavements: A coupled thermo-economic numerical evaluation

Abstract

As demand for low-carbon heating and cooling solutions grows, shallow geothermal energy systems integrated within pavements offer a promising approach for sustainable infrastructure. This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP)-treated geothermal pavements using a validated finite element (FE) model. Thermal performance of the embedded ground heat exchanger (GHE) system was examined across representative climates, subbase saturation levels, and subgrade thermal conductivities. Results show MICP treatment significantly enhances performance in dry conditions, particularly when subgrade conductivity is low (0.3 W/(m·K))...