The EU aims to have a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) economy by 2050. At present, heating and cooling represent around 50% of the final energy demand in Europe and are for a large part supplied by fossil fuel derived energy. Large scale seasonal heat storage is a key strategy to decarbonize heating in order to achieve EU ambitions, because sustainable sources like geothermal and solar provide a lot of heat in summer, while we need it in winter. The PUSH-IT consortium receives this Horizon Europe grant to demonstrate and develop such heat storage systems. PUSH-IT stands for Piloting Underground Seasonal Heat Storage In geothermal reservoirs.
TU Delft is leader of PUSH-IT. Martin Bloemendal is an assistant professor at the department of Water Management at the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences and at KWR, and will lead the project. PUSH-IT will be a showcase with a full-scale application of seasonal heat storage (up to 90°C) in geothermal reservoirs using three different technologies known as Aquifer, Borehole and Mine Thermal Energy Storage (ATES, BTES, MTES)*. At 6 different sites in Europe they together represent relevant geological conditions, which are widely available across Europe.' *See explanation in section
Learning while doing
PUSH-IT will pilot and develop each of the technologies: ATES in Delft, BTES in Darmstadt and MTES in Bochum, while we also have follower sites for each technology: Berlin, Litomerice (Czech Republic) and Cornwall respectively. Among many other things, we will reduce environmental impact and improve performance by simulating and monitoring heat losses in the underground and optimize design and operations accordingly to limit such losses. Furthermore, we will optimize integration of the storage via demand-side management with machine learning control technologies. Also citizen engagement, analysing motivations and perceptions of heat storage, and investigating governance policies and business models that engage citizens in decision making regarding urban heating systems including storage are non-technical, but very important elements in the project', says Bloemendal.
There will be 3 demo sites for novel technology demonstration in Delft, Darmstadt and Bochum . And 3 follower sites in Berlin, Litomerice (Czech Republic) and United Downs (Cornwall), one for each heat storage technologies. System integration, technology development and societal engagement are important to contribute to the activities at the different sites which will enable PUSH-IT to realise its results.
Unique combination of ATES and Geothermal in Delft
The source of heat for the ATES in Delft will be the planned geothermal well on TU Delft Campus. When this has been realised and is running, the geothermal well will also produce heat in summer, while the demand is low. The heat produced in summer will be stored in the ATES system, in the local aquifer at around 200m depth, and extracted again in winter. With the heat from the ATES, also peak demand can be supplied from sustainable resources instead of burning gas', explains Bloemendal. This will further reduce the GHG emissions for heating the campus and could also be used for the city of Delft.' The combination of ATES and geothermal in the built environment is unique in the world and makes the TU Delft stand out internationally. Not only because of the application of this combination, but also the associated research and education that will be carried out at these facilities. Key innovations developed by PUSH-IT at the Delft site relate to drilling, completion and well design as well as monitoring and testing of the geothermal well, water quality control and system integration/control.
