Ground-source heat pumps for smart building applications: a review

The transition towards low-carbon energy systems is increasing the importance of efficient and controllable heating and cooling technologies in buildings. Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems represent a mature solution for building thermal energy supply, while advances in system configurations, ground heat exchanger (GHE) technologies, modelling, control, and thermal energy storage (TES) integration are expanding their operational capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of GSHP systems in building applications, progressing from their technological foundations and system configurations to modelling and control approaches, TES integration, demand-side management (DSM), and their emerging potential to provide energy flexibility. The review first examines GSHP and GHE configurations, followed by modelling approaches and control strategies for predicting and managing system operation. The role of TES is then discussed, with particular attention to its ability to decouple thermal demand from electricity consumption and enhance load-shifting capabilities. Building on these technological and operational foundations, the review examines DSM and demand response strategies and discusses how GSHP systems can contribute to peak-demand reduction, load shifting, and flexible building-grid interaction. Current barriers include system complexity, high upfront costs, limitations in available data and standardised assessment methods, and challenges associated with control and system integration.