Development of an Open-Source Tool for Feasibility Assessment of Thermal Energy Storage (FATES)

Reducing energy waste plays a critical role in achieving environmental sustainability targets. Aquifers, with their substantial storage capacity, present a promising solution for thermal energy storage, offering both short- and long-term options. Recent advancements in Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) technology have enhanced its economic viability, driving increased interest in its applications for sustainable energy systems. Although numerical simulations have shown great potential for evaluating the performance of ATES systems, they are often resource-intensive, requiring significant time and computational investment. In the context of the accelerating energy transition, there is a need for cost-effective tools to streamline optimization processes and uncertainty analysis. During this thesis FATES (Feasibility Assessment of Thermal Energy Storage), a fast-running, open-source Python-based tool has been developed to model, analyze, and optimize ATES system performance. Integrating Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology, statistical analysis, and numerical simulations using OpenGeoSys (OGS), FATES leverages a response surface model (RSM) to approximate ATES system outputs in mere seconds. The primary functions of the FATES are to assess the influence of various parameters on the performance of ATES systems and to identify the most significant factors (heavy hitters), which then are used to develop a proxy model capable of efficiently approximating system behavior. The proxy model facilitates rapid Monte Carlo simulations, enabling the generation of probability distributions for potential outcomes. Finally, in this thesis, FATES has been tested using real-world field data from a potential ATES target site in southern Vienna, provided by EVN Wärme GmbH.