IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i17p7767-d1736985.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Holistic Sustainability Assessment of Solar Ground Source Heat Pump Systems: Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Carbon Emissions and Emergy Analyses

Author

Listed:
  • Lanxiang Yang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Jiaxuan Pu

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Shangzhou Ma

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Pengkun Zhou

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Yaran Wang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Yan Jiang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Haihe Education Area, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China)

Abstract

In order to explore the increase in the environmental benefits of solar ground source heat pump (SGSHP) systems, this study assesses the environmental benefits of SGSHPs through a comprehensive sustainability evaluation, integrating life cycle assessment, carbon emission analysis, and emergy analysis based on a real project in Tianjin (39.13° N, 117.2° E). By comparing an SGSHP with the conventional GSHP system, improvements in sustainability performance are quantified. The analysis reveals that the SGSHP system has a full-cycle EI 16 of 1.88 × 10 3 , which is 15% higher than the GSHP value of 1.63 × 10 3 . The SGSHP demonstrates a significant advantage in terms of carbon emissions at all stages, with an overall carbon emission of 31,671 kgCO 2 -eq, which is a reduction of about 9.4% compared to the 34,955 kgCO 2 -eq of the conventional GSHP system. The emergy conversion rate of SGSHP is 3.58 × 10 3 , which is 16.23% higher than that of GSHP. This shows that the system with the addition of solar energy is able to convert raw energy into useful heat or cooling energy more efficiently, reducing emergy wastage and making it operate more efficiently, with emergy saving and environmental advantages. The SGSHP system has an ESI value of 1.12, indicating that it is in a developmental or intermediate stage, with significant potential for sustainable economic contributions. In contrast, the GSHP system, with an ESI value of 0.98, demonstrates that it is not sustainable over the long term. By using a comprehensive environmental assessment framework and comparative data analysis, this study aims to better understand the SGSHP system’s performance in energy use, carbon emissions, and ecological impact, providing a scientific foundation for its wider adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Lanxiang Yang & Jiaxuan Pu & Shangzhou Ma & Pengkun Zhou & Yaran Wang & Yan Jiang, 2025. "Holistic Sustainability Assessment of Solar Ground Source Heat Pump Systems: Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Carbon Emissions and Emergy Analyses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7767-:d:1736985
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7767/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7767/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meng, Zhaofeng & Huo, Ziheng & Dong, Suiju & Liu, Yin & Zhai, Saina & Ding, Chuangchuang & Hu, Ke & Yang, Jingxing & Han, Weinan, 2024. "Simulation study on the system performance of solar-ground source heat pump using return water of the district heating network as supplementary heating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    2. Violante, Anna Carmela & Donato, Filippo & Guidi, Giambattista & Proposito, Marco, 2022. "Comparative life cycle assessment of the ground source heat pump vs air source heat pump," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1029-1037.
    3. You, Tian & Wang, Fang, 2023. "Green ground source heat pump using various low-global-warming-potential refrigerants: Thermal imbalance and long-term performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 159-173.
    4. Wang, J.L. & Yan, Ting & Tang, Xin & Pan, W.G., 2025. "Design and operation of hybrid ground source heat pump systems: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    5. Wang, Yubo & Quan, Zhenhua & Zhao, Yaohua & Rosengarten, Gary & Mojiri, Ahmad, 2025. "Techno economic analysis of integrating photovoltaic-thermal systems in ground-source heat pumps for heating-dominated regions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PC).
    6. Mohamed, Badr A. & O'Boyle, Marnie & Li, Loretta Y., 2023. "Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge with lignocellulosic and algal biomass for sustainable liquid and gaseous fuel production: A life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    7. Gao, Jinshuang & Li, Sheng & Wu, Fan & Jiang, Long & Zhao, Yazhou & Zhang, Xuejun, 2024. "Study on efficient heating method by solar coupled air source heat pump system with phase change heat storage in severe cold region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    8. Manesh, Afshin Mohammadi & Liu, Hui, 2025. "Thermo-environ-economic analysis of a novel solar-assisted heat pump system; comparison with conventional single stage and cascaded air source heat pumps," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    9. Eskew, John & Ratledge, Meredith & Wallace, Michael & Gheewala, Shabbir H. & Rakkwamsuk, Pattana, 2018. "An environmental Life Cycle Assessment of rooftop solar in Bangkok, Thailand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 781-792.
    10. Ma, Runzhuo & Bu, Siqi, 2025. "Evaluation and mitigation of carbon emissions in energy industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    11. Shimada, Yutaro & Tokimatsu, Koji & Uchida, Youhei & Kurishima, Hideaki, 2024. "Environmental compatibility and economic feasibility of ground source heat pumps in tropical Asia regarding lifecycle aspects: A case study in Bangkok, Thailand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    12. Ren, Siyue & Feng, Xiao, 2021. "Emergy evaluation of ladder hydropower generation systems in the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1038-1050.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Luo, Zhenyu & Zhu, Na & Yu, Zhongyi & Zhang, Qin & Yan, Lei & Hu, Pingfang, 2024. "Performance study of dual-source heat pump integrated with radiation capillary terminal system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    2. Ren, Siyue & Feng, Xiao & Wang, Yufei, 2021. "Emergy evaluation of the integrated gasification combined cycle power generation systems with a carbon capture system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Victor Kouloumpis & Antonios Kalogerakis & Anastasia Pavlidou & George Tsinarakis & George Arampatzis, 2020. "Should Photovoltaics Stay at Home? Comparative Life Cycle Environmental Assessment on Roof-Mounted and Ground-Mounted Photovoltaics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Hui Zhang & Shengzhong Huang & Longhui Li & Shuang Ouyang, 2025. "Prioritizing Key Factors in Refrigerant Substitution for GHG Emission Reduction: An Integrated DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-27, June.
    5. Tobias Brudermueller & Ugne Potthoff & Elgar Fleisch & Felix Wortmann & Thorsten Staake, 2025. "Estimation of energy efficiency of heat pumps in residential buildings using real operation data," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Du, Hailong & Yang, Liu & Wang, Wenzhong & Lu, Lunhui & Li, Zhe, 2022. "Emergy theory to quantify the sustainability of large cascade hydropower projects in the upper Yangtze," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 468(C).
    7. You, Tian & Zhang, Yongzheng & Zhou, Sihan & Luo, Dan & Zhang, Linfeng, 2024. "Investigation on the heat transfer performance of a novel composite energy geo-structure with energy piles and boreholes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. Shamoushaki, Moein & Koh, S.C. Lenny, 2024. "Net-zero life cycle supply chain assessment of heat pump technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    9. Sun, Yuying & Song, Jianhang & Wang, Shuofeng & Wang, Wei & Li, Huai & Wei, Wenzhe & Li, Xintian, 2025. "An online simulation-based collaborative optimization control method for solar thermal energy, heat pumps and building operations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    10. Ren, Siyue & Feng, Xiao & Yang, Minbo, 2023. "Solution of issues in emergy theory caused by pathway tracking: Taking China's power generation system as an example," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    11. Roshan Hehar & William Burges & Thomas Fender & Jonathan Radcliffe & Neha Mehta, 2025. "Data-Based Modelling for Quantifying Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction Potential by Using Heat Pumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, February.
    12. Olivieri, Lorenzo & Caamaño-Martín, Estefanía & Sassenou, Louise-Nour & Olivieri, Francesca, 2020. "Contribution of photovoltaic distributed generation to the transition towards an emission-free supply to university campus: technical, economic feasibility and carbon emission reduction at the Univers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1703-1714.
    13. Liu, Dehan & Zhao, Jing & Tian, Zhe & Li, Yawen & Yang, Zilan & Lu, Shilei & Lin, Quanyi, 2025. "Optimization of hybrid active-passive solar heating system through day-ahead and real-time control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    14. Wei, Wenqi & Yue, Han & Huang, Jiguang & Zhang, Heng & Liu, Haowen & Chen, Haiping & Cheng, Chao, 2025. "Performance analysis and optimization of photovoltaic thermal coupled ground source heat pump system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    15. Hu, Zicheng & Li, Wanfeng & Zhang, Haiyan & Liu, Xiaoyuan & Geng, Shuwen & Han, Yuchen & Ge, Fenghua, 2024. "Soil thermal imbalance analysis of ground source heat pump system of residential and office buildings in sixteen cities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    16. Zheyuan Han & Kaiying Wang & Limin Dai & Kui Li & Xiaoshuai Wang, 2024. "Recent Application of Heat Pump Systems for Environmental Control in Livestock Facilities–A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Wang, Fang & You, Tian & Cui, Hongzhi, 2024. "Multi-objective optimization and evaluation of the building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal-energy pile ground source heat pump system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 371(C).
    18. Li, Yantong & Nord, Natasa & Yin, Huibin & Pan, Gechuanqi, 2025. "Impact of heat loss from storage tank with phase change material on the performance of a solar-assisted heat pump system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    19. Na He & Guohui Feng & Shasha Chang & Xinxin Liu & Yanru Cheng, 2025. "Application of FAHP in Multi-Objective Optimization of Solar–Electromagnetic Energy Heating System Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-24, July.
    20. Yao Zhang & Ronghua Wu & Hao Yu & Yujuan Yang & Hao Zhan, 2023. "Operation Mode and Energy Consumption Analysis of a New Energy Tower and Ground Source-Coupled Heat Pump System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-20, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7767-:d:1736985. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.