On 28 March, FBK-SE | The Centre for Sustainable Energy | Bruno Kessler Foundation hosted a successful workshop in Riva del Garda to unveil the revolutionary USES4HEAT demonstration site.
The workshop served as a platform for in-depth discussions on the role of thermal energy storage in optimising the integration and decarbonisation of district heating and cooling networks. Around 100 attendees, including esteemed speakers from AIRU, UGI, Euroheat & Power, Università degli Studi di Padova, IF Technology, and RSE SpA, shared their expertise and insights.
One of the main highlights of the event was the unveiling of the ambitious demo site. The Riva del Garda demonstration captures and stores excess heat from a CHP plant (Alto Garda Power) connected to the local district heating network using an innovative aquifer thermal energy storage system, reducing gas consumption and CO2 emissions annually. The goal is also to demonstrate how surplus heat from the local district heating network (DHN) can be effectively captured and stored during periods of low demand using an innovative aquifer thermal energy storage system. This stored thermal energy can then be efficiently utilised during peak demand periods through the utilisation of a cutting-edge geothermal heat pump.
