Energy-saving potential of ground source multiple chillers in simple and hybrid configurations for Mediterranean climates

Air conditioning accounts for a large share of energy usage in residential and tertiary sectors. Renewable technologies offer promising solutions to reduce the environmental impacts meeting buildings’ loads. The possibility using soil as thermal reservoir heating cooling systems has gained growing attention last decade due its high potential saving. In this paper, benefits achievable ground source chillers air an office building located Southern Italy are discussed. A multiple system coupled with borehole heat exchanger is investigated compared conventional air-cooled water-cooled systems. analysis relies on detailed modeling main plant components exploits novel approach calculating resistance borehole. Results show that achieves 6.516 average efficiency ratio, which 53.2% higher than reference 6.5% system. addition, hybrid scheme integrates tower 19.5% reduction make-up water consumption. sensitivity demonstrates increasing depth could lead significant variation performance, different trends simple configurations. proposed study puts forth design operation technology covering space-cooling demand buildings Mediterranean climates.