Overview of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) Technology

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of what seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) is, how it can best be used, and its potential benefits and problems. ATES, the storage of thermal energy in underground aquifers in freshwater, considered to be the most viable form of the technology, is only economic on a large scale, but commercial operating experience demonstrates its technical feasibility, e.g. in China. The U.S. Department of Energy has spent several million dollars supporting research into ATES over the last decade, although field trials are currently curtailed. Despite lack of funding and unwillingness on the part of the private sector to take risks in commercial development, ATES can be shown to be a valuable source of energy, and money, saving, and could be effectively exploited to advantage.