Increasing market opportunities for renewable energy technologies with innovations in aquifer thermal energy storage

Hoekstra, Nanne; Pellegrini, Marco; Bloemendal, Martin; Spaak, G.; Gallego, A. Andreu; Comins, J. Rodriguez; Grotenhuis, J.T.C.; Picone, S.; Murrell, A.; Steeman, Hendrik-Jan; Verrone, A.; Doornenbal, Pieter; Christophersen, Mette; Bennedsen, Lars Rønn; Henssen, Maurice J. C.; Moinier, S.; Saccani, Cesare

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136142

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Global warming represents an additional challenge [62,63]. As a result of their demonstrated feasibility, these systems are now wildly spread across Europe and North America [64][65][66]. However, they are still not well known in Middle Eastern countries, despite the potential advantages that the systems could offer in this region [67][68][69][70][71][72].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seepage Velocity: Large Scale Mapping and the Evaluation of Two Different Aquifer Conditions (Silty Clayey and Sandy)

et al. 2020

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Seepage velocity is a very important criterion in infrastructure construction. The planning of numerous large infrastructure projects requires the mapping of seepage velocity at a large scale. To date, however, no reliable approach exists to determine seepage velocity at such a scale. This paper presents a tool within ArcMap/Geographic Information System (GIS) software that can be used to map the seepage velocity at a large scale. The resultant maps include both direction and magnitude mapping of the seepage velocity. To verify the GIS tool, this study considered two types of aquifer conditions in two regions in Iraq: silty clayey (Babylon province) and sandy (Dibdibba in Karbala province). The results indicate that, for Babylon province, the groundwater flows from the northwest to southeast with a seepage velocity no more than 0.19 m/d; for the Dibdibba region, the groundwater flows from the west to the east with a seepage velocity not exceeding 0.27 m/d. The effectiveness of the presented tool in depicting the seepage velocity was thus demonstrated. The accuracy of the resultant maps depends on the resolution of the four essential maps (groundwater elevation head, effective porosity, saturated thickness, and transmissivity) and locations of wells that are used to collect the data.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seepage Velocity: Large Scale Mapping and the Evaluation of Two Different Aquifer Conditions (Silty Clayey and Sandy)

et al. 2020

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“…Since the 1990s, aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) has been increasingly developed and applied in urban areas worldwide as a sustainable energy technique for providing heating and cooling, which occupies over 40% of the global fossil energy consumption . As an important element in the energy transition, ATES contributes considerably to energy saving and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. − Compared to conventional technologies, ATES systems achieved 40–70% energy savings and CO 2 savings of up to several thousand tons per year by 2017 worldwide . The ATES system uses groundwater as an energy sink and source, with heat or cold energy extraction and transfer depending on the season. , In summer, cool groundwater is pumped up and receives heat from the building via the heat exchanger.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous investigations have also been performed, including field monitoring, − numerical modeling, − management and operating strategy, ,, and policy, , to analyze the efficiency of ATES and seek possible improvements and optimizations. Recently, the combination of ATES and in situ bioremediation (ATES–ISB) has gained attention due to its potential for simultaneously dealing with energy and environmental problems. ,,,− The ATES–ISB system is being investigated for the sustainable redevelopment of urban brownfields with energy demand and encountering groundwater contaminated by chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). Previous laboratory studies have revealed that complete CVOC biodegradation not only proceeds under the high flow condition of ATES but also shows a 13-fold improvement with simulated ATES functioning .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Integrated with in Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds

Wang

Chen

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Due to the increasing need for sustainable energy and environmental quality in urban areas, the combination of aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) and in situ bioremediation (ISB) has drawn much attention as it can deliver an integrated contribution to fulfill both demands. Yet, little is known about the overall environmental impacts of ATES–ISB. Hence, we applied a life-cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental performance of ATES–ISB, which is also compared with the conventional heating and cooling system plus ISB alone (CHC + ISB). Energy supply via electricity is revealed as the primary cause of the environmental impacts, contributing 61.26% impacts of ATES–ISB and 72.91% impacts of CHC + ISB. Specifically, electricity is responsible for over 95% of water use, global warming potential, acidification potential, and respiratory inorganics, whereas the production of the biological medium for bioremediation causes more than 85% of the eco- and human toxicity impacts in both cases. The overall environmental impact of ATES–ISB is two times smaller than that of CHC + ISB. Sensitivity analysis confirms the importance of electricity consumption and electron donor production to the environmental impacts in both energy supply and bioremediation. Thus, future studies and practical applications seeking possible optimization of the environmental performances of ATES–ISB are recommended to focus more on these two essential elements, e.g., electricity and electron donor, and their related parameters. With the comprehensive LCA, insight is obtained for better characterizing the crucial factors as well as the relevant direction for future optimization research of the ATES–ISB system.

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“…In this context, large seasonal storage systems are generated via borehole fields (Borehole Thermal Energy Storage [17,18]) or wells in aquifers (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage, e.g. [19][20][21]). Another common technological variant, which is also the focus of this study, is the storage of thermal energy in large, artificial, groundbased basin structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paraffin wax as self-sealing insulation material of seasonal sensible heat storage systems—A laboratory study

2020

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Seasonal heat storage is considered as one of the key elements on the path to a low-emission economy. Embedded in local district heating networks, they raise the share of renewable energies and balance out highly fluctuating supplies of e.g. solar systems or windmills. The technology of seasonal heat storage can be described as almost technically mature, with well-established concepts and some systems being in operation for a considerable time. Nevertheless, the operating experience gained to date also revealed two critical problems. On the one hand, even smallest leakages in sealing foils led to irreparable breakdowns. On the other hand, heat loss in the marginal areas was revealed as a key deficiency, preventing the technology from advancing towards global marketability. This study presents an experimental approach to address these two key issues in the field of seasonal energy storage. Two small-scale laboratory tests were carried out to test paraffin wax as a completely novel component in the marginal area of seasonal storages. This is based on two material properties: As hydrophobic and mobile medium, the warmed and molten paraffin should actively seal the fissures and holes in the event of leakage. Additionally, the latent heat storage properties of the paraffin wax should increase the systems’ total storage capacity and reduce lateral heat losses via its low thermal conductivity. With retardation periods from 2.5 to 4 hours, the results show an effective phase change effect of the paraffin wax, which reduces energy losses and allows to buffer short-term, intensive loading and unloading processes. By storing up to 138 kJ/kg energy in the paraffin wax, increased capacities of application-scale pit storages by up to 40.70 MWh are to be expected. Additionally, the self-healing features could be successfully demonstrated: With only small losses of between 1.5 and 17%, the paraffin wax effectively sealed artificially incised leaks. Thereby, the mechanism was most effective for local defects. Following these positive demonstrations of feasibility, technical design questions still remain, which concern prevention of deformation of the paraffin wax. Once solved, this new component can then provide a path for further optimization of seasonal heat storage technologies.

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Increasing market opportunities for renewable energy technologies with innovations in aquifer thermal energy storage

Cited by 22 publications

References 17 publications

Seepage Velocity: Large Scale Mapping and the Evaluation of Two Different Aquifer Conditions (Silty Clayey and Sandy)

Seepage Velocity: Large Scale Mapping and the Evaluation of Two Different Aquifer Conditions (Silty Clayey and Sandy)

Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Integrated with in Situ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds

Paraffin wax as self-sealing insulation material of seasonal sensible heat storage systems—A laboratory study

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