Review of borehole thermal energy storage systems in unsaturated soils: Materials, mechanism, and future development

Abstract

AbstractBorehole thermal energy storage (BTES) is an innovative renewable energy technology for building heating and cooling. The lack of studies about BTES in unsaturated soils acts as a barrier to further implementation. In this study, the research obstacles, progress, hotspots, and differences between countries of BTES systems in unsaturated soils were described in detail based on a literature review, bibliometric analysis, technology roadmap, and data visualizations. The results show that the process of coupled heat and moisture transfer has been a research hotspot in recent years, and the thermo‐hydraulic properties increase the complexity of analysis. There are few studies on experimental data and engineering practices of BTES systems in unsaturated soils. China is leading in publications number, but European and North American countries perform better in international cooperation and policy incentives. Technology development will be directly driven by policy momentum, followed by the gradual establishment of a complete research, design, and evaluation system, which helps accelerate the replacement of traditional fossil energy with renewable energy. In an attempt to improve society's awareness and move forward with scientific foresight of BTES systems in unsaturated soils, this review has revealed the evolutionary process, identified its current status, and depicted the future development from political, economic, social, and other dimensions.