The mine water that occurs here has a high thermal conductivity and capacity and is therefore suitable for accumulating ambient heat, which can naturally reach 40 °C, or can be reheated, usually during the summer, using waste heat at an even higher temperature. The hot water is pumped to the surface where the heat is removed through a heat exchanger and used to heat buildings or other objects, and the cold water is returned. This cycle is repeated so that the balance between the energy supplied and the energy extracted is maintained in the long term and the system can operate efficiently for decades.
During summer, hot water is injected into the mine, where it is stored.
During winter, the heat can be extracted and used in heat networks to warm buildings.
MTES is a technology under development: currently less than five systems are operational worldwide. PUSH-IT is developing high-temperature MTES systems (HT-MTES).
Would you like to know what an abandoned mineshaft looks like? Take a look at the following video from the Consolidated Mines site where PUSH-IT is carrying out a feasibility study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBh4tJ9XQPQ&feature=youtu.be
Discover the MTES pilot sites in Bochum (DE) and United Downs (UK): https://www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pilots/
Learn more about the other heat storage technologies: https://www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/technologies/
Follow for more news on https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-push-it/
