Efficiency and reliability of energy systems in urban districts with seasonal energy storage in aquifers (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage ATES Berlin)

Aquifers are often used for seasonal or long-term energy storage. This research project develops a site-independent design-method to enable reliable and efficient planning of thermal aquifer storage systems. The developed planning method is evaluated and improved with the help of a practical example by which, also, potential aquifer damage due to long-term permeability changes can be investigated experimentally. The purpose of these tests was not only to determine the hydraulic properties of the reservoir but also to evaluate potential damages by chemical and microbial processes that can be induced during drilling and water production. Therefore, the microbial community composition was determined by 16S-based Illumina MiSeq sequencing.