Foreword — Why another design tool?
Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems remain a specialized segment of HVAC engineering, often perceived as complex and intimidating by practitioners new to the field. As a result, geothermal solutions are frequently overlooked during the early stages of project development. Conversely, when they are considered, system components are often oversized as a conservative response to limited experience with geothermal systems, resulting in unnecessarily high capital costs. This tendency not only undermines the economic competitiveness of geothermal systems, but also slows the broader adoption of a technology with tremendous potential to reduce energy consumption, peak electrical demand, and greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time, students and practitioners entering the field rarely have access to powerful yet accessible tools that clearly bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical design workflows. It was with this challenge in mind that the development of GHE Analysis began in 2021. Since then, the software has been adopted by students, engineers, and consultants around the world. Its development has benefited from my dual experience—first as a geothermal industry consultant and now as a professor at Polytechnique Montréal. This unique perspective has shaped both the interface and the methodology of the software, helping to strike a balance between academic rigor and practical usability.
Addressing the challenges outlined above, GHE Analysis provides an intuitive, fast-learning design environment powered by a high-performance simulation engine built upon decades of academic research. Its primary objective is to allow designers to focus on the key physical processes governing GSHP performance rather than on software complexity. By making advanced design methods more accessible, the software promotes accurate, cost-effective system designs and helps prevent the systematic oversizing that has historically affected many geothermal projects.
GHE Analysis is developed and distributed by a spin-off company originating from Polytechnique Montréal. Over the years, many of my graduate students have contributed to scientific publications related to the software’s underlying models, and these research contributions have been extensively incorporated into the software (see the References section at the end of this manual). Whenever applicable, a portion of the revenues generated by GHE Analysis is shared with students whose research has contributed to its development. This model reflects my commitment to ensuring that academic contributions are recognized and rewarded beyond the publication of scientific work.
Since the release of version 1.0, I have received invaluable feedback from users across the geothermal industry. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many academic and industrial users of GHE Analysis who, since 2021, have suggested improvements, reported issues, and actively contributed to the software’s evolution. Their continuous input has played a fundamental role in the development and maturity of version 3.0, and I am deeply thankful for their trust, support, and collaboration.
Professor Philippe Pasquier, eng., Ph.D.
Lead Programmer, P3 Geothermal