Masoud Manafi from the Center for Sustainable Energy (Fondazione Bruno Kessler – FBK, Italy) represented the USES4HEAT project at the European Geothermal Congress 2025 held from 7–10 October in Zurich. He presented a poster titled “Feasibility Assessment of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage: A Case Study in Riva del Garda, Italy.”
The study, conducted in collaboration with an international research team, investigates Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) as a sustainable solution for seasonal heat storage in district heating systems. Key findings include:
- Strong potential for low-, medium-, and high-temperature ATES systems in the Riva del Garda area.
- Thermal recovery efficiencies of up to ~70% after 10 years of simulation.
- Availability of up to 10 GWh of waste heat in summer for storage, supporting renewable and flexible district heating networks.
Next steps focus on optimising well configurations and integrating ATES into existing district heating systems, advancing sustainable and flexible heating solutions.