Groundwater Utilisation for Energy Production in the Nordic Environment: An Energy Simulation and Hydrogeological Modelling Approach

Abstract

Groundwater provides one option to utilise renewable energy sources. The long-term groundwater energy potential for three building complexes, situated at latitude of 64°, was investigated by combining an energy demand simulation for the buildings with hydrogeological modelling. First, a reference year for the building energy demand was created. Secondly, groundwater flow requirements were calculated. The results of the previous stages were utilised in groundwater heat transport modelling in an environment where the natural temperature of groundwater was 4.9˚C. Finally, the long-term (50 years) groundwater energy potential was calculated. The groundwater maintained its heating potential during 50 years of operation. When both heating and cooling power were demanded, the long-term pumping rate of groundwater decreased by 60,000 m 3 /a. Energy utilisation created a cold groundwater plume downstream, in which the temperature decreased by 1 to 2.5˚C within a distance of 300 m from the site. Groundwater can provide a longterm energy source for large building complexes in the Nordic climate. Results indicate that groundwater could effectively be utilised until the temperature reaches approximately 4˚C. Accurate information on the building energy demand and hydrogeology is essential for successful operation.

Preliminary research for eight possible groundwater energy utilisation sites in Southern Finland

“…is not covered meaning that investment costs are not known at the moment. Banks (2009) and Arola et al (2016) showed that ATES system increased groundwater energy potential compared to heating or cooling energy utilisation only. The investment costs are more critical on the sites where no current cooling system exists.…”

“…Several studies (i.e. Arola, et al 2016;Holopainen, et al 2010;Rosen, et al 2001) has showed that economically the most suitable option is to dimension geoenergy heat pump system to cover 50% to 60% of the peak design heating power. Noticing above and the sites heating energy demand we calculate the scenarios where 30 % and 60 % of heating power and 100% of cooling power will be covered by GEU system.…”

Remote Sensing of Groundwater: Current Capabilities and Future Directions

“…As climate change continues to alter patterns of drought and regional recharge dynamics, groundwater will continue to establish itself as an increasingly critical component of the water cycle, as groundwater variability directly impacts surface water (Döll, 2009; Earman & Dettinger, 2011; Maxwell & Kollet, 2008; Scibek & Allen, 2006). Groundwater also has important implications for the energy cycle, as it can act as a thermal energy storage (Arola et al., 2016; Dickinson et al., 2009) or an energy consumer during its abstraction (Kumar, 2005; Scott & Sharma, 2009; Wang et al., 2012). Groundwater supply, therefore, is directly linked to global food safety, climate change, and energy security (Famiglietti, 2014; Giordano, 2009; McCallum et al., 2020; OECD, 2011; Sharma, 2009; WWAP, 2015).…”

Investigations into the First Operational Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage System in Wallonia (Belgium): What Can Potentially Be Expected?

“…In the latter case, a 3D model was recently developed at high temperatures considering the geothermal gradient [45]. Other thermal transport models were developed with other modeling codes, such as HydroGeoSphere [30,34], SEAWAT [46,47], HST3D/HSTWin [48], or METRA [49]. To the authors' knowledge, most of the ATES numerical applications span over an annual or seasonal timescale with very few available data.In the present study, extensive datasets were acquired to conceptualize and calibrate a coupled groundwater flow and heat transport model.…”