Geothermal energy has become a viable renewable resource in the global drive for carbon neutrality and increased energy efficiency, especially in energy-intensive industries like Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning. It is perfect for incorporation into sustainable energy systems because of its low running costs, dependability, and environmental advantages. With an emphasis on their use in urban settings and integration with energy systems such as solar energy and ground source heat pumps, this analysis attempts to methodically examine the current status of geothermal energy piles and their hybrid designs. Although the number of geothermal hybrid systems is growing, including geothermal-cooling tower (30%) and geothermal-solar (45%) applications, there is currently no standardized framework for categorizing and evaluating geothermal energy piles and their hybrid potential. This paper identifies important technological gaps in previous research and offers a fresh classification approach. The literature is thoroughly reviewed and thematically synthesized in order to categorize geothermal energy piles according to building use, geothermal source types, energy distribution systems, and thermal storage techniques. The study also analyzes system-level issues, assesses performance metrics, and looks at hybrid geothermal energy piles systems. According to the assessment, there is a lot of room to improve energy efficiency by integrating geothermal energy piles, especially when combined with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning or solar systems. The absence of comprehensive experimental data under practical mechanical and thermal loads is still a significant obstacle, though. The report ends with suggestions for additional experimental research and design enhancements to facilitate broader geothermal energy piles implementation. • Geothermal systems classification, coupling, and hybridization. • A recent comprehensive review and critical analysis. • A methodical approach to classifying and evaluating various geothermal concepts. • This study has a substantial impact on the advancement of geothermal approaches.
Dokmak et al. (Fri,) studied this question.