AQUIFER THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS: BASIC CONCEPTS AND GENERAL DESIGN METHODS

Abstract

Renewable energy plays an important role in meeting the ever increasing energy demand of the modern world. At thispoint, underground thermal energy storage has been suggested as a clean and efficient alternative of energy extraction forthe sustainable future as one of the renewable energy varieties. Thermal energy storage systems in the aquifers havepreluded the energy market with great success in many countries. Hot and cold natural energy sources are stored in theaquifer by using underground water to store the heat in this system. Efficiency of the system depends on several factorsincluding groundwater temperatures and flow characteristics. Among the different underground thermal energy storageoptions, one of the most promising and commercial option is known as aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES). Based onthe recent developments reported in the literature, general design procedures and construction techniques as well asrelationships related with the efficiency of ATES systems are reviewed within the scope of this paper. The applicationsfrom the world and Turkey were discussed in a comparative approach.