The geothermal use of pile foundations represents a useful, efficient and cost effective method of installing ground heat exchangers for cooling and heating buildings, which may potentially favour a decrease in installation cost, considering that it involves a minimal impact on the piling program.

A new research and development project has been recently launched in Spain to undertake some studies on this complex matter (PITERM PROJECT). The experiment, consists of a specifically designed, constructed and fully monitored geothermal precast pile driven at Polytechnic University of Valencia Campus. The pile was subjected to two types of loading: mechanical and thermal. The mechanical load was applied by means of a mechanical frame anchored to the ground, as element of reaction, the three anchors being used to induce an active compressive force. The thermal load was provided by a reversible heat pump, with a data logger to record the outflow and return temperatures (thermal response test installation).