Description
Decarbonisation of heating systems is key to a net-zero greenhouse gas economy. The main challenge here is the seasonal mismatch between heat demand and generation from sustainable sources. The optimal solution is to store the energy for later use. Low temperature large-scale heat storage in shallow aquifers and boreholes is routinely applied for this purpose. Extending storage temperatures can improve system efficiency and reduce levelised cost of energy (LCOE).
The EU-H2022 project PUSH-IT (2023-2026) aims to demonstrate the full-scale applications of high-temperature underground thermal energy storage (HT-UTES; up to 90°C) in geothermal reservoirs using 3 different technologies: aquifers (ATES), boreholes (BTES) and mines (MTES). Each technology will be developed at a demonstration site, where the full storage system will be implemented, and a follower site, where selected elements of novel technologies will be tested.
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PUSH-IT focuses on developing and testing enabling technologies, i.e., newly developed monitoring and water quality control, novel drilling and completion and novel control systems, to reduce environmental impact, LCOE and risks, and improve HT-UTES performance and robustness. In-depth efforts are being made to investigate the socio-economic drivers and barriers associated with UTES, to develop guidelines for integrating the novel technologies into society, and to develop recommendations for improving existing regulatory frameworks.
Acknowledgements: Funded by the European Union under grant agreement 1011096566 (PUSH-IT project). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or CINEA. Neither the EU nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.
