Open Access
Synergistic Pathways for Sustainable Urban Energy Infrastructure: A Conceptual Integration of Geothermal Energy Geostructures, Tunnel Heat Recovery, and Self-Powered Wireless Monitoring Systems
4
Department of Civil and Environmental Energy Systems, University of Graz, Austria
Abstract
Urban energy systems are undergoing a structural transformation driven by decarbonization goals, rising cooling demand, infrastructure densification, and the need for resilient monitoring and control. The references provided for this study collectively point toward three converging technological domains: geothermal and thermo-active ground structures, heat recovery from underground and urban infrastructures, and wireless sensor systems supported by distributed energy harvesting and storage. Although these domains are often studied separately, they address a shared systems challenge: how to transform built infrastructure from a passive energy consumer into an active, monitored, and multifunctional component of sustainable urban energy networks. This article develops an original conceptual research synthesis based strictly on the supplied references. It examines the evolution of energy geostructures, geothermal tunnels, embedded-pipe heating and cooling, wastewater and underground heat recovery, and self-powered wireless sensing technologies for infrastructure intelligence. The study uses a qualitative integrative methodology to identify thematic relationships among heat extraction, thermal interaction, urban integration, storage support, and sensor-enabled operational control. The analysis finds that thermo-active foundations, piles, tunnels, and underground structures have matured from isolated engineering concepts into a broader category of embedded urban energy assets, while heat recovery from rail tunnels, cable tunnels, wastewater, and abandoned wells expands the definition of usable urban thermal resources (Brandl, 2006; Adam & Markiewicz, 2009; Davies et al., 2017; Davoodi et al., 2024). At the same time, wireless sensor networks, ambient energy harvesting, and hybrid storage systems offer a pathway for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and autonomous control of these distributed thermal infrastructures (Akbari, 2014; Ma et al., 2015; Wen et al., 2021). The article argues that the future of sustainable urban energy does not lie in single-device innovation alone, but in the integration of underground thermal assets with low-power digital monitoring architectures. This integrated perspective reframes cities as layered energy environments in which structural elements, thermal flows, storage devices, and sensor intelligence operate as mutually reinforcing subsystems.
Keywords
Energy geostructures,
tunnel geothermics,
geothermal heat recovery
References
Adam, D., & Markiewicz, R. (2009). Energy from earth-coupled structures, foundations, tunnels and sewers. Geotechnique, 59(3), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2009.59.3.229
Akbari, S. (2014). Energy harvesting for wireless sensor networks review. In Proceedings of the Federated Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems.
Aridi, R., Faraj, J., Ali, S., Gad El-Rab, M., Lemenand, T., & Khaled, M. (2021). Energy recovery in air conditioning systems: Comprehensive review and analysis. Energies, 14, 5869. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185869
Aridi, R., Faraj, J., Ali, S., Lemenand, T., & Khaled, M. (2022). Hybrid heat recovery systems: Classifications and applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 167, 112669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112669
Axelsson, G. (2010). Sustainable geothermal utilization: Case histories and research issues. Geothermics, 39(4), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2010.08.001
Barla, M., & Di Donna, A. (2018). Energy tunnels: Concept and design aspects. Underground Space, 3(4), 268–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2018.03.003
Berg, A., Grimm, M., & Stergiaropoulos, K. (2017). Geothermal usage in inner city tunnels. In 12th IEA Heat Pump Conference.
Bidarmaghz, A., Narsilio, G., Buhmann, P., Moormann, C., & Westrich, B. (2017). Thermal interaction between tunnel and borehole heat exchangers. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 10, 29–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2017.05.001
Brandl, H. (2006). Energy foundations and thermo-active ground structures. Geotechnique, 56(2), 81–122. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2006.56.2.81
Brandl, H. (2013). Thermo-active ground-source structures for heating and cooling. Procedia Engineering, 57, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.04.005
Chen, Z., Li, J., Tang, G., Zhang, J., Zhang, D., & Gao, P. (2024). High-efficiency heating and cooling with embedded pipes. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 192, 114209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114209
Davies, G., Boot-Handford, N., Grice, J., Dennis, W., Ajileye, A., & Revesz, A. (2017). Heat recovery potential from urban underground infrastructures. In ASHRAE Winter Conference.
Davoodi, S., Al-Shargabi, M., Wood, D., Slivkin, S., Shishaev, G., & Rukavishnikov, V. (2024). Geothermal energy recovery from abandoned petroleum wells: A review of the challenges and opportunities. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 68, 103870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2024.103870
Dunn, B., Kamath, H., & Tarascon, J. (2011). Electrical energy storage for the grid: A battery of choices. Science, 334(6058), 928–935. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1212741
Elancheziyan, A., de Oliveira, J. C., & Weber, S. (2012). A new system for controlled testing of sensor network applications: Architecture, prototype and experimental evaluation. Ad Hoc Networks, 10(6), 1101–1114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2012.02.010
Franzius, J. N., & Pralle, N. (2011). Turning segmental tunnels into sources of renewable energy. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 164, 35–40.
Jenitta, J., & Rani, S. (2022). Home automation using Android. In International Conference on VLSI, Communication and Computer Communication (pp. 39–42). https://doi.org/10.53759/aist/978-9914-9946-1-2_7
Kim, H. S., Kim, J. H., & Kim, J. (2011). A review of piezoelectric energy harvesting based on vibration. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 12(6), 1129–1141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-011-0151-3
Kulkarni, D., Shaikh, S., Shirsath, A., & Kadam, T. (2015). Traffic and weather monitoring system using wireless sensor networks. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 4(3), 631–634. https://doi.org/10.17148/IJARCCE.2015.43151
Levihn, F. (2017). CHP and heat pumps to balance renewable power production: Lessons from the district heating network in Stockholm. Energy, 137, 670–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.01.118
Li, C., Zhang, G., Xiao, S., Xie, Y., Liu, X., & Cao, S. (2022). Long-term operation of tunnel-lining ground heat exchangers in tropical zones: Energy, environmental, and economic performance evaluation. Renewable Energy, 196, 1429–1442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.003
Loveridge, F., McCartney, J., Narsilio, G., & Sanchez, M. (2020). Energy geostructures: A review of analysis approaches, in situ testing and model scale experiments. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 22, 100173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2019.100173
Loveridge, F., Woodman, N., Javed, S., & Claesson, J. (2022). A fast approximate method for simulating thermal pile heat exchangers. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 32, 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2022.100368
Lund, J., & Toth, A. (2021). Direct utilization of geothermal energy 2020 worldwide review. Geothermics, 90, 101915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101915
Ma, C., Di Donna, A., Dias, D., & Zhang, T. (2021). Thermo-hydraulic and sensitivity analyses on the thermal performance of energy tunnels. Energy and Buildings, 249, 111206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111206
Ma, T., Yang, H., & Lu, L. (2015). Development of hybrid battery–supercapacitor energy storage for remote area renewable energy systems. Applied Energy, 153, 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.12.008
Mahan, G., Sales, B., & Sharp, J. (1997). Thermoelectric materials: New approaches to an old problem. Physics Today, 50(3), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.881752
Meibodi, S., & Loveridge, F. (2022). The future role of energy geostructures in fifth generation district heating and cooling networks. Energy, 240, 122481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.122481
Nicholson, D., Chen, Q., de Silva, M., Winter, A., & Winterling, R. (2014). The design of thermal tunnel energy segments for Crossrail, UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability, 167(3), 118–134. https://doi.org/10.1680/ensu.13.00014
Ogunleye, O., Singh, R., Cecinato, F., & Choi, J. (2020). Effect of intermittent operation on the thermal efficiency of energy tunnels under varying tunnel air temperature. Renewable Energy, 146, 2646–2658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.08.088
Oguzhan, C., Huseyin, G., Emrah, B., Orhan, E., & Arif, H. (2015). Heat exchanger applications in wastewater source heat pumps for buildings: A key review. Energy and Buildings, 104, 215–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.07.013
Pinuela, M., Mitcheson, P. D., & Lucyszyn, S. (2013). Ambient RF energy harvesting in urban and semi-urban environments. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(7), 2715–2726. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.2013.2262687
Pralle, N., Franzius, J., & Gottschalk, G. (2009). Tunnelling concrete segments as geothermal energy collectors. In Innovative Concrete Technology in Practice (pp. 137–141).
Revesz, A., Chaer, I., Thompson, J., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M., & Maidment, G. (2016). Ground source heat pumps and their interactions with underground railway tunnels in an urban environment: A review. Applied Thermal Engineering, 93, 147–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.09.011
Ríos, J. (2019). Integration capacity of geothermal energy in supermarkets through case analysis. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 34, 49–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2019.04.007
Roundy, S., Wright, P. K., & Rabaey, J. (2003). A study of low level vibrations as a power source for wireless sensor nodes. Computer Communications, 26(11), 1131–1144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-3664(02)00248-7
Rybach, L., & Eugster, W. (2010). Sustainability aspects of geothermal heat pump operation with experience from Switzerland. Geothermics, 39, 365–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2010.08.002
Saner, D., Juraske, R., Kübert, M., Blum, P., Hellweg, S., & Bayer, P. (2010). Is it only CO2 that matters? A life cycle perspective on shallow geothermal systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(7), 1798–1813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.04.002
Saxena, P., & Tandon, N. (2015). Fault diagnostics and health monitoring of machines using wireless condition monitoring systems. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 6(4), 178–182.
Shahbaz, M., Zakaria, M., Shahzad, S., & Mahalik, M. (2018). The energy consumption and economic growth nexus in top ten energy-consuming countries: Fresh evidence from using the quantile-on-quantile approach. Energy Economics, 71, 282–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2018.02.023
Stemmle, R., Menberg, K., Rybach, L., & Blum, P. (2022). Tunnel geothermics—A review. Geomechanics and Tunnelling, 15(1), 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/geot.202100084
Stockholm Exergi. (2022). District heating and cooling from Stockholm's wastewater. Stockholm Exergi.
Suckling, T., & Smith, P. (2002). Environmentally friendly geothermal piles. In International Conference on Piling and Deep Foundations (pp. 8–15).
Unterberger, W., Hofinger, H., Grünstäudl, T., Adam, D., & Markiewicz, R. (2004). Utilization of tunnels as geothermal energy sources. In ISRM International Symposium (pp. 421–426).
Vujić, D. (2015). Wireless sensor networks applications in aircraft structural health monitoring. Journal of Applied Engineering Science, 13(2), 79–86. https://doi.org/10.5937/jaes13-7388
Wang, Z., Shu, L., Niu, S., Su, X., & Zhang, S. (2023). Research on particle clogging during groundwater recharge of ground source heat pump systems. Geothermics, 115, 102810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2023.102810
Wegner, M., Turnell, H., Davies, G., Revesz, A., & Maidment, G. (2021). Combined benefits of cooling with heat recovery for electrical cable tunnels in cities. Sustainable Cities and Society, 73, 103100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103100
Wen, Q., He, X., Lu, Z., Streiter, R., & Otto, T. (2021). A comprehensive review of miniatured wind energy harvesters. Nano Materials Science, 3, 170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoms.2021.04.001
Xu, W. (2018). China ground source heat pump development research report (4th ed.). China Building Industry Press.
Yawut, C., & Kilaso, S. (2011). A wireless sensor network for weather and disaster alarm systems. In International Conference on Information and Electronics Engineering (pp. 155–159).
Yildiz, F. (2009). Potential ambient energy-harvesting sources and techniques. Journal of Technology Studies, 35(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.21061/jots.v35i1.a.6
Zhang, G., Cao, Z., Xiao, S., Guo, Y., & Li, C. (2022). A promising technology of cold energy storage using phase change materials to cool tunnels with geothermal hazards. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 163, 112509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112509
Zhang, Y., Xia, C., Zhou, S., & Cao, S. (2023). A novel sustainable cooling system in a tunnel with high geotemperature: Concept and thermal performance. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 137, 105122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2023.105122
Zhu, J., Zhang, X., Luo, H., & Sahraei, E. (2018). Investigation of the deformation mechanisms of lithium-ion battery components using in-situ micro tests. Applied Energy, 224, 251–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.007
Similar Articles
- Dr. Kalkidan Tesfaye, Dr. Lars Neumann, TECHNO-ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND OPTIMIZATION OF OFF-GRID HYBRID RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN ETHIOPIA , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 06 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 06
- Dr. Banyu Herlambang, Optimizing the Archipelago's Energy Future: A Systems Analysis of Electric Vehicle and Renewable Energy Integration into Indonesia's Electrical Grid , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 10 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 10
- Dr. Marco L. Venturi, INTEGRATED GRID-TO-VEHICLE AND VEHICLE-TO-GRID ARCHITECTURES FOR HIGH-RENEWABLE POWER SYSTEMS: OPTIMIZATION PARADIGMS, UNCERTAINTY, AND SYSTEM-LEVEL IMPLICATIONS , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 3 No. 02 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 02
- Dr. Hendra Wijaya, Dwi Astuti, COORDINATED MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION FOR GREEN POWER SYSTEM SCHEDULING AND CONSUMPTION WITH DIVERSE DEVICES , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 01 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 01
- Dr. Emmanuel K. Owusu, Assessment of Fuel Briquettes from Blends of Low- and High-Density Wood Sawdust with Palm Kernel Shell Residues , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 08 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 08
- Isinkaye O. D., Oluwatobi O. B., Ikusika T. T., DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A NON-FOSSIL FUEL GENERATOR , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 08 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 08
- Dr. Alistair Finch, Green Hydrogen Production Technologies: A Comprehensive Review , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 2 No. 09 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 09
- Alejandro Martín Calderón, Vehicle-to-Grid Integration as a Systemic Lever for Frequency Regulation, Renewable Energy Assimilation, and Market Transformation in Modern Power Systems , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 01
- Prof. Sophie L. Moreau, Dr. Benjamin K. Mensah, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF BIOMASS-DERIVED HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PATHWAYS: A LIFE CYCLE PERSPECTIVE , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01
- Sofia Lindberg, Beyond Wake Loss Minimization: A Comprehensive Research Synthesis on Gradient-Based, Heuristic, and Robust Wind Farm Layout Optimization Under Real-World Constraints , International Journal of Renewable, Green, and Sustainable Energy: Vol. 3 No. 04 (2026): Volume 03 Issue 04
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.