{"id":29,"date":"2025-01-27T11:44:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T11:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iea-es.org\/task-45\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2026-04-23T13:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:35:45","slug":"qa-bank","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iea-es.org\/task-45\/qa-bank\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A bank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Link to online formular:<\/a> <\/a>ask your question about LTES to IEA ES Task 45 experts<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recordings of Q&A sessions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q&A session 1.1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q&A session 2.1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q&A session 2.2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Planning, legal, regulatory and societal aspects<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Legal aspects (LTES)<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Is the new revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) expected to reduce the time needed for getting a permit for LTES? If yes, how much?<\/em><\/summary>\n
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The new revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) is designed to significantly shorten permitting times. In areas designated as “renewable acceleration areas,” the permitting process should take no more than 12 months, and a maximum of 2 years outside those areas. However, whether it actually speeds up the process depends on how each country implements the directive into national law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, the faster permitting rules mostly apply to storage projects that are built together with renewable energy production (such as wind or solar farms) and share a grid connection. For example, in Germany, only wind energy projects currently benefit from the acceleration areas, and thermal energy storage is rarely combined with wind power. This means the practical effect on LTES permitting times, especially for thermal storage, may be limited in some countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, certain types of storage, such as large-scale thermal storage or geothermal systems requiring significant groundwork, may not be covered by these faster permitting rules due to specific exceptions. Therefore, while the directive has the potential to reduce permitting times in theory, the real-world impact for LTES will depend on the specifics of national implementation and storage technology involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answered during Q&A session 2.1 of IEA-ES Task 45, see following link<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Urban planning (LTES)<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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How can LTES be included in urban planning? And how easily can a city prioritize LTES construction and integration?<\/em><\/summary>\n
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In Germany, large thermal energy storages are usually not located in cities or densely populated areas, but outside in green field areas, which are highly protected under German planning law. Permitting is difficult, and this is a question not clearly answered by either law or jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are significant uncertainties around planning and legal interpretation. Thermal energy storage is not a high priority in Germany at the moment – the law and heat planning frameworks are currently being revised, and lobbying work is still needed. This is an area where Task 45 can play a role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an obligation for heat planning in European cities with more than 45,000 inhabitants, and LTES should be part of that planning process. Heat mapping in particular can reveal, for instance, excess heat during summer periods – making long-term storage an attractive option. When more detailed heat planning is carried out in Denmark, an EnergyPRO calculation is typically made to assess the economic feasibility of storage. Regarding land availability, land is expensive in Germany, but if storage is needed it can still be cheaper to pay, for example, 200 euros per square meter for land than to build a tank storage. So LTES is an interesting option, but one needs to look for the right conditions when doing heat planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answered during Q&A session 2.1 of IEA-ES Task 45, see following link<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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Technical aspects (feasibility, design, tender, monitoring, etc.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feasibility (ATES)<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Where can resources be found to help assess the suitability of an area for aquifer thermal energy storage? Are Europe-wide maps available that show this, or can maps containing other geological information be used to indicate where such storage might or might not be feasible?<\/em><\/summary>\n
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Many countries now provide feasibility maps for ATES and BTES. The methodology and usability of these maps vary by country. The most valuable ones are regularly updated with detailed hydrogeological data, enabling accurate subsurface analysis. Useful features include site-specific hydrogeological profiles, layer-by-layer potential assessments, and indications of legal feasibility. Some maps also offer preliminary cost estimates for ATES or BTES systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find below some websites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n