Abstract High-Temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (HT-ATES) can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating. The thermal recovery efficiency is the main parameter indicating the performance of an HT-ATES system and it is influenced by multiple aquifer properties and storage characteristics. This study presents a method for estimating recovery efficiency through numerical modeling, data analysis, and curve fitting. This method shows the relation between the recovery efficiency and various storage conditions, such as aquifer properties and storage temperature. In addition, this research explores an analytical relationship between energetic efficiency and recovery efficiency and verifies that relationship with the generated data. The proposed method can be used for the purpose of initial screening to estimate the performance of an HT-ATES system and for efficiently using HT-ATES as a component in larger energy system models. This method uses the modified Rayleigh number in combination with aquifer thickness and injected volume and has a R^2 of 85%. The analytical relation between energetic efficiency and recovery efficiency was shown to be accurate for all calculated energetic efficiency values above 60% and is less accurate with lower calculated energetic efficiency values.

District heating (DH) systems can contribute substantially to the decarbonization of the heating sector by enabling the implementation of sustainable heating solutions such as ambient heat (AH) and waste heat (WH). However, these sources are subject to economic risks arising from uncertainties in future energy prices and availability. This paper presents a techno-economic analysis for a decarbonized DH network for a city in Poland, using a simulation model that evaluates levelized cost of heat (LCOH) across a wide range of heat supply portfolios including AH and WH sources. It considers uncertainties related to energy price and WH cessation scenarios as well as sensitivities related to WH prices, heat demand, and biomass availability. Results show that the DH system configuration plays a key role in determining the average cost, due to the relatively large share of CAPEX in the LCOH calculations, underscoring the importance of accurate investment cost assumptions. Further important factors are the development of the heat demand and the availability of biomass. The presence of low-cost industrial WH is beneficial. In general, there is a trade-off: minimizing average cost results in a higher economic risk.

Biomass chemical looping gasification (BCLG) offers significant advantages over the conventional biomass gasification process in terms of enhanced gasification efficiency, inherent CO₂ capture, process circularity, and mitigated emissions of pollutants. This review discusses the prevailing status of research and development of BCLG in terms of production of high-quality syngas and negative carbon emissions based on the latest experimental and modelling studies. In particular, the design of the BCLG process and reactors is compared with conventional gasification. This review suggests that the BCLG process could be 10–25 % more efficient than the conventional combustion and gasification system in terms of economical H₂-production cost (3.37 USD/kg H₂-produced) and negative life cycle emissions of CO₂ (−14.58 kg-CO₂e/ kg-H₂ produced). This review has extensively considered the effects of process parameters and oxygen carriers (OCs) on gasification chemistry and reaction engineering during BCLG experiments. More specifically, the properties of OCs have been holistically analysed from technological, economic, and environmental perspectives to screen appropriate and affordable OCs for BCLG. In addition, the state-of-the-art modelling studies on BCLG are compared in terms of thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetics, and integrated processes. Technological challenges and research gaps in experiments and modelling have been highlighted in order to advance the BCLG process for industrial applications. In particular, further experimental work is needed to tackle issues related to stability and deactivation of OCs, fluidisation and circulation, the mechanical strength of OCs, the optimisation of feed conversion, and the integration and management of various thermal reactors. It is also desired to enhance the accuracy of models by incorporating optimisation of integrated processes and a more detailed reaction mechanism. Overall, BCLG is a promising negative emissions technology for renewable energy production, yet more innovative efforts in experimental and modelling studies are imperative to move towards more practical applications.

District heating represents a viable way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the built environment. This paper aims to assess the extent to which the market revenues of multiple heat production technologies can cover their fixed costs in a competitive wholesale district heating market. Marginal-cost pricing is applied in a case study of the Netherlands. A linear programming model incorporating heat supply and demand is developed to obtain hourly dispatch and heat market prices. It is concluded that low carbon heat generation technologies tend to have low short-run marginal costs. All examined heat producers have an under-recovery of fixed costs in a range between 60% and 90% except the waste incineration combined heat and power plant. It has an overall return on investment of 44% and 12% within the reference and heat pump scenario respectively. Although marginal-cost pricing may ensure cost-efficient dispatch, the market revenues are far from enough to recoup the investment costs for the majority of the heat producer, let alone the network costs. Significant additional remuneration is required to sustain a competitive heat market and ensure sufficient investment in new generation capacity in the long run.

High temperature aquifer thermal energy storage (HT-ATES) can contribute to the integration of renewable energy sources in the energy system, the replacement of fossil fuel-based heat supply and the utilization of surplus heat from industrial sources. However, there is limited understanding on the drivers, barriers and conditions of HT-ATES implementation. The objective of this study is to partly fill this knowledge gap by developing a methodological framework for a quick scan on market potential of HT-ATES. Based on the application of this framework to a case study in the Netherlands, it is concluded that the proposed method is suitable for a pre-feasibility analysis on the HT-ATES market potential. The investigated case study has a planned district heating system with geothermal energy as the heat source. HT-ATES is found to be cost-effective compared to a reference technology, i.e. a natural gas boiler, in the scenarios under existing and more sustainable alternative policies. The lifetime of HT-ATES and the size of heat demand have a strong influence on the market potential.

Geo-resources play an increasing significant role in achieving a sustainable energy future. However, their exploitation is not free of environmental impacts. This paper aims to identify the lessons and knowledge gaps on understanding of the sources, mechanisms and scope of environmental consequences of underground geo-energy resources exploitation. The paper examines four underground exploitation activities: CO₂ geological storage, exploitation of shale gas, geothermal power and compressed air energy storage (CAES). Selected studies carrying out life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental risk assessment (ERA) are structurally reviewed by applying a six steps method. Our finding indicates that global warming potential is the major focus of examined LCA studies with relatively less attention on other impacts. Environmental impacts at the local level are less evaluated except water use for shale gas and geothermal power. Environmental impacts of exploitation with storage purposes are relatively low. For energy supply associated exploitation, the impacts largely depend on the types of underground activities and the exploited energy carriers. In the ERA studies, likelihood of a hazard occurrence is the focus of the probability assessment. There is limited information on the pathways and transport of hazard agents in the subsurface and on the relation between hazard exposure and the impacts. The leakage of the storing agents is the well-identified hazard for storage associated exploitation, while the migration of fluids and exploited energy carriers are the ones for exploitation with energy supply purposes. In general, understanding of environmental risks of soil contamination are limited. Very few number of ERA studies are available for assessing a CAES. Our research points out the need for developing a framework which allows the integration between LCA and ERA in subsurface environmental management.