Comprehensive Evaluation of Adaptability Zoning for Shallow Geothermal Energy Development and Utilization: Case of Nantong City, East Coast of China

Abstract

The development of green energy sources, such as shallow geothermal energy, is one of the most important measures to reduce the environmental pollution caused by the use of traditional energy sources. At present, coastal cities in the east of the Yangtze River Delta, China, have favorable conditions for the development of shallow geothermal energy because of their abundant geothermal resources. However, the development and utilization of shallow geothermal energy are still in their infancy, and adaptability zoning is yet to be fully carried out. The study area is Nantong City, which is in the eastern coast of the Yangtze River Delta. A comprehensive analysis of the conditions of shallow geothermal energy is carried out based on the analysis of the regional geological, hydrogeological, and environmental geological conditions. The adaptability zoning index system of the groundwater source heat pump and buried pipe ground source heat pump system is then constructed, and the weight of evaluation factors is determined according to analytic hierarchy process. Finally, the adaptability zoning of shallow geothermal energy development and utilization mode is obtained by using the spatial analysis function of geographic information. The results showed that the areas with good suitability and better suitability account for 98.24% of the study area and those with good economy and better economy account for 99.67% of the study area. This method can provide reference suggestions for the orderly development and sustainable utilization of shallow geothermal energy in coastal cities in plain areas.