EU-funded PUSH-IT research initiative aims to develop heat storage systems

Reichstag, German parliament, Berlin – site of an underground Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage system (source: flickr/ Audrius Juralevicius, creative commons)

The Piloting Underground Seasonal Heat Storage In geothermal reservoirs (PUSH-IT) is a consortium that aims to develop large-scale heat storage solutions to make solar and geothermal heating available all year round. The consortium, led by the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and consisting of 19 partners, has received a EUR 20 million Horizon Europe grant.

The PUSH-IT initiative aims to demonstrate the full-scale application of seasonal heat storage using three different technologies: aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES), borehole thermal energy storage (BTES), and mine thermal energy storage (MTES). These three technologies will be demonstrated in six different sites across Europe:

• ATES in Delft and Berlin
• BTES in Darmstadt and Litomerice (Czech Republic)
• MTES in Bochum and United Downs (Cornwall)

“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.” explained Assistant Professor Martin Bloemendal of TU Delft.

“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,” Bloemendal added.

TU Delft provides a unique setting in that it has a local aquifer at around 200 meters depth and a planned geothermal well that can supply the heat. This combination, and the associated research that can be done in these facilities, makes TU Delft stand out internationally. We reported previously on the signing of an LOI between Geothermie Delft and Huisman for the delivery of a drilling rig at TU Delft with a target start of drilling by November 2022.

The PUSH-IT consortium will develop, deploy, and test heat storage technologies for different heat sources, technologies, geological conditions, distribution systems, stakeholder populations, and market and legal conditions. With the results of these operational projects, the consortium aims to develop generic solutions and practices that are relevant across Europe.

Source: TU Delft