ATES-installation

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A ATES plant allows for the storage of heat and cold. The heat released during cooling in the summer is stored in an underground aquifer. In winter, this heat is used to heat the buildings with the help of a heat pump. This heating is done in a very energy-efficient way. On top of that, this seasonal storage of heat provides very efficient passive cooling of the buildings during the summer.

Ingenium examined the hydraulic design and proper operation of these ATES installations. The share of these systems in the total heat and cold production balance was determined and the additional potential these systems could offer was examined. The annual CO2 emission reduction and annual financial savings compared to conventional systems were also determined.

Ways were then sought to deploy these ATES installations today and in the future as an essential element in OPZ Geel's strategy to reduce gas consumption. After all, in time OPZ Geel wants to move to a completely fossil-free site. These provided strategies were applied to one specific cluster of buildings on the site. Ingenium looked at three scenarios, technically, energetically and financially, in order to make better use of the existing ATES and to heat this cluster without gas in the short term.

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Want to know more about this project? Contact Joris Dedecker at 050 40 45 30 or joris.dedecker@ingenium.be.