Potential for Implementation of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) Technology in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present a preliminary assessment of the possibility of using ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage) technology for seasonal storage of heat and cold in shallow aquifers in Poland. The ATES technology is designed to provide low-temperature heat and cold to big-area consumers. A study by researchers from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands indicates very favourable hydrogeological and climate conditions in most of Poland for its successful development. To confirm this, the authors used public hydrogeological data, including information obtained from 1324 boreholes of the groundwater observation and research network and 172 information sheets of groundwater bodies (GWBs). Using well-described in the world literature requirements for ATES systems, the selection of boreholes was carried out in the GIS environment, which allowed to capture aquifers that meet the required criteria. The preliminary assessment indicates the possibility of successful implementation of ATES technology in Poland, in particular in the northern and western parts of the country, including cities with over 350,000 citizens: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Bydgoszcz.