The WAGEs (Towards the Wide Adoption of shallow Geothermal Energy systems in Cyprus) project isn’t just a research initiative; it’s a journey to redefine Cyprus’s energy landscape. Our mission is clear: to make Shallow Geothermal Energy (SGE) a cornerstone of the country’s sustainable future. To achieve this, we’re focusing on two key pillars: expanding the physical infrastructure and, just as importantly, diffusing critical knowledge.
Our recent wave of publications marks a significant milestone in this journey. They are a direct result of the groundwork we have laid at the Cyprus University of Technology, where we have established a state-of-the-art SGE research facility. These papers don’t just present theoretical findings; they offer practical, data-backed evidence derived from our on-site systems, demonstrating the tangible progress we’ve made towards wider SGE adoption.
From Infrastructure to Insight: Some Key Findings
The biggest hurdles for SGE adoption are often high initial costs and a lack of real-world performance data. Our latest research directly addresses these challenges.
1. Proving Economic Viability
Our first step was to analyse a comprehensive SGE system featuring multiple types of ground heat exchangers (GHEs). This setup allowed us to directly compare their performance and, crucially, their costs. Our paper by Christou et al. (2024) provides a detailed financial breakdown. We found that the open-well GHE complex was by far the most cost-effective solution, with a cost-per-kWh ratio of just 0.32 EUR/kWh. This finding is a powerful tool for investors and developers, highlighting a clear pathway to a more affordable SGE installation. It’s a testament to the value of our expanded infrastructure—it provided the real-world data needed to make a strong economic case for SGE.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184621
2. Demonstrating Exceptional Efficiency
Cost is only part of the equation; efficiency is the other. In our paper by Christodoulides et al. (2025), we analyzed the system’s operational performance in the hot Mediterranean climate. The results were outstanding. We recorded a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of up to 5, meaning the geothermal system provided five times more energy for heating and cooling than it consumed in electricity. This data moves the conversation from theoretical claims to proven fact, solidifying SGE as a high-efficiency solution and validating the research and development that went into our facility.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-025-10307-3
Expanding the Horizons of Geothermal Technology
The WAGEs project isn’t just about what’s available now; it’s about what’s next. Our publications also explore cutting-edge technologies and best practices that will shape the future of SGE.
3. Advancing Monitoring with Cutting-Edge Sensors
Accurate monitoring is essential for optimizing system performance. Our research by Theodosiou et al. (2025) focuses on multimode optical fiber sensors as a robust, low-cost solution. By comparing different data-processing algorithms, we’ve provided a practical guide for developing advanced sensing systems. This directly ties into our aim of making relevant knowledge and equipment more accessible, as it gives the industry the tools it needs to better manage and maintain SGE installations.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2025.3589028
4. Standardizing and Improving Best Practices
To truly achieve “wide adoption,” we need unified standards. The review by Ciapala et al. (2025) on energy piles and foundations is a critical step in this direction. This paper synthesizes global research and calls for a unified framework for testing and evaluating these structures. By proposing multi-year experimental campaigns, we’re not just reviewing existing knowledge; we’re setting the agenda for future research that will create reliable design guidelines and accelerate the adoption of these innovative systems.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116181
A Future Built on Data and Knowledge
These publications are a testament to the progress of the WAGEs project. We started with a vision to build the infrastructure and expand the knowledge base, and now, we have the data to back it up. By sharing these findings, we are empowering engineers, developers, and policymakers with the information they need to confidently invest in SGE. Our journey is a long one, but with each paper, we get one step closer to making shallow geothermal energy a reality for every home and business in Cyprus.