Periodic Reporting for period 1 - USES4HEAT (Underground Large Scale Seasonal Energy Storage for Decarbonized and Reliable Heat)
Période du rapport: 2023-12-01 au 2025-05-31
USES4HEAT aims to demonstrate innovative, large scale, seasonal thermal energy storage (TES) solutions enabling a future decarbonized and reliable heating supply. USES4HEAT demonstrates, at TRL8 and for a one year test campaign, two innovative, cost-effective, large scale, seasonal underground TES (UTES) units (specifically, aquifer TES, ATES, and high temperature borehole TES, BTES) to maximize the availability and resilience of heating supply whilst reducing energy losses and environmental impact. USES4HEAT seeks to demonstrate the TES units as fully integrated units in commercial large-scale district heating networks (DHN) as well as integrating industrial waste heat recovery and fulfilling industrial thermal demand. In doing so, USES4HEAT also demonstrates six innovative key enabling components/technologies and their integration with seasonal TES: a) advanced ATES drilling equipment and remotely controlled machines halving drilling times, b) innovative layered BTES collectors plastic piping materials ensuring elevated performance at high temperature (95°C), c) innovative groundwater heat pump (HP) at high temperature using low global warming potential (GWP) fluids and fully connected to ATES and DHN, d) enhanced hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar panels integrated with UTES boosting sector coupling, e) concentrated solar thermal collectors fully integrated with large-scale seasonal UTES maximizing the exploitation of solar availability and diversifying the thermal energy sources, f) AI, big-data analytics and cloud based intelligent predictive energy management software and predictive operation and maintenance (O&M) tools for optimized integrated system operation (from technical and economic perspectives).
As of M18, all WPs have already started, and the main results and overview of the status of the different WPs are summarized below.
WP1: Project Management and Coordination
The structures and tools for an effective project management and consortium internal communication have been set in place. Regular on-line follow ups with the Project Management Committee (WP leaders) have been organized (at least bi-monthly). On-site Project Steering Committee meetings have been organized including the participation of at least one representative per partner (also ensuring hybrid participation):
- KOM (in Brussels, 13 December 2024)
- M6 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Oslo, 22 May 2024) including demo site visit (Furuset, 23 May 2024)
- M12 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Trento 30 November 2024) including demo site visit (Riva del Garda, 31 November 2024)
- M17 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Stockholm 9 April 2025) including replication site visit (Kvarnholmen, 10 April 2025)
WP2: Comprehensive system modelling via technoeconomic, dynamic, LCA and geospatial scenarios identifications
Basic and advance layouts for the two demo sites, including key enabling technologies as well as alternative units, have been defined and summarized in D2.1. The project KPIs have been defined and a subset have been selected to be monitored during the full extension of the project considering all actions. Modelling activities (geospatial, techno-economic, dynamic, and LCA) have started, modelling methodologies have been defined and preliminary outcomes presented. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.
WP3: AI driven predictive O&M and intelligent energy management hub
The energy management system for the demo site has been designed to integrate advanced monitoring, AI-based analytics, and optimization functionalities via a modular architecture. Control strategies and operation modes have been outlined. An initial version of the optimization engine (planner) has been defined and validation against historical performance data have been carried out. The work is planned to proceed according to plan. However, some delays are foreseen for T3.2 due to the risks faced and redefinition process of the demo sites. As a result, the development and validation of the predictive algorithms could not follow the original timeline. This delay affects the expected progress towards the implementation of AI-based demand and generation forecasting tools, which are essential for the subsequent control and optimization tasks.
WP4: Demonstration in Furuset, Oslo – Norway
The basic engineering of the demo site has been defined after a comprehensive design optimization process considering BTES sizing (number of BHE, spacing, depth, …) and different operational strategies to maximize the DHN flexibility and revenues opportunities. All demo base line data, including historical operations and geological information have been gathered.
The development of the key enabling technologies has been progressing with a wide range of successful testing for BHE pipes and different integration designs for the STC within the DHN and UTES installation.
Risk #6 and a review of internal priorities within CELSIO occurred which demanded some risk mitigation actions to be set in place
WP5: Demonstration in Riva del Garda – Italy
The basic and advanced engineering of the demo site have been defined including integration of all subcomponents and full integration with local DHN and power plant. The permit process has been followed intensively together with local authorities, including environmental assessment. All demo base line data, including historical operations and geological information have been gathered.
The development of the key enabling technologies has been progressing with the manufacturing of the drilling unit almost completed, a wide set of testing undergone for the identification of most suited PVT absorbers, and full subcomponents definition for the groundwater HP.
Risk #2 and #6 occurred which demanded some risk mitigation actions to be set in place.
WP6: Techno-Economic Potential and Environmental Impact Assessment of USES4HEAT and Sustainable Business Identification
Only a T6.3 officially started. A comprehensive review of the EU Taxonomy framework, with input from external experts, has been performed to identify gaps and assess its applicability to the two demo sites. Even if not officially started, the other tasks have ensured alignment and collaboration with activities ongoing in WP2. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.
WP7: Dissemination, communication and exploitation
D&C materials, project templates, website and social media have been prepared and launched. Strong interactions with sister and UTES related projects have been set in place, also via a dedicated cluster. The D&C activities have been progressing according to plan focusing on raising awareness on the project and its main topics and objectives. The project KERs has been reviewed and a initial exploitation plan has been defined. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.
WP1: Project Management and Coordination
The structures and tools for an effective project management and consortium internal communication have been set in place. Regular on-line follow ups with the Project Management Committee (WP leaders) have been organized (at least bi-monthly). On-site Project Steering Committee meetings have been organized including the participation of at least one representative per partner (also ensuring hybrid participation):
- KOM (in Brussels, 13 December 2024)
- M6 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Oslo, 22 May 2024) including demo site visit (Furuset, 23 May 2024)
- M12 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Trento 30 November 2024) including demo site visit (Riva del Garda, 31 November 2024)
- M17 Project Steering Committee meeting (General Assembly) (Stockholm 9 April 2025) including replication site visit (Kvarnholmen, 10 April 2025)
WP2: Comprehensive system modelling via technoeconomic, dynamic, LCA and geospatial scenarios identifications
Basic and advance layouts for the two demo sites, including key enabling technologies as well as alternative units, have been defined and summarized in D2.1. The project KPIs have been defined and a subset have been selected to be monitored during the full extension of the project considering all actions. Modelling activities (geospatial, techno-economic, dynamic, and LCA) have started, modelling methodologies have been defined and preliminary outcomes presented. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.
WP3: AI driven predictive O&M and intelligent energy management hub
The energy management system for the demo site has been designed to integrate advanced monitoring, AI-based analytics, and optimization functionalities via a modular architecture. Control strategies and operation modes have been outlined. An initial version of the optimization engine (planner) has been defined and validation against historical performance data have been carried out. The work is planned to proceed according to plan. However, some delays are foreseen for T3.2 due to the risks faced and redefinition process of the demo sites. As a result, the development and validation of the predictive algorithms could not follow the original timeline. This delay affects the expected progress towards the implementation of AI-based demand and generation forecasting tools, which are essential for the subsequent control and optimization tasks.
WP4: Demonstration in Furuset, Oslo – Norway
The basic engineering of the demo site has been defined after a comprehensive design optimization process considering BTES sizing (number of BHE, spacing, depth, …) and different operational strategies to maximize the DHN flexibility and revenues opportunities. All demo base line data, including historical operations and geological information have been gathered.
The development of the key enabling technologies has been progressing with a wide range of successful testing for BHE pipes and different integration designs for the STC within the DHN and UTES installation.
Risk #6 and a review of internal priorities within CELSIO occurred which demanded some risk mitigation actions to be set in place
WP5: Demonstration in Riva del Garda – Italy
The basic and advanced engineering of the demo site have been defined including integration of all subcomponents and full integration with local DHN and power plant. The permit process has been followed intensively together with local authorities, including environmental assessment. All demo base line data, including historical operations and geological information have been gathered.
The development of the key enabling technologies has been progressing with the manufacturing of the drilling unit almost completed, a wide set of testing undergone for the identification of most suited PVT absorbers, and full subcomponents definition for the groundwater HP.
Risk #2 and #6 occurred which demanded some risk mitigation actions to be set in place.
WP6: Techno-Economic Potential and Environmental Impact Assessment of USES4HEAT and Sustainable Business Identification
Only a T6.3 officially started. A comprehensive review of the EU Taxonomy framework, with input from external experts, has been performed to identify gaps and assess its applicability to the two demo sites. Even if not officially started, the other tasks have ensured alignment and collaboration with activities ongoing in WP2. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.
WP7: Dissemination, communication and exploitation
D&C materials, project templates, website and social media have been prepared and launched. Strong interactions with sister and UTES related projects have been set in place, also via a dedicated cluster. The D&C activities have been progressing according to plan focusing on raising awareness on the project and its main topics and objectives. The project KERs has been reviewed and a initial exploitation plan has been defined. The work is planned to proceed according to plan.