F-STES: Floating seasonal thermal energy storage and thermal potential of lakes
Eduard Voelker, Vasiliy Glazov & Wolfgang Schmidt
The impact of climate change is already clearly noticeable. The growth of world population and their demands of living space have been increasing rapidly. In this case, there is an increasing need for thermal energy, even in industrialized areas where population declines. The development of renewable energy in Germany and all over the world is growing steadily at different levels and provides a clear insight into ecological energy production. The generation of renewable energy varies by season and thus causes to the difference between the supply and demand of energy in different seasons. Seasonal energy storage is one of the most important components of future energy supply. The aim of research is to describe the thermal potential of lakes. Using the novel floating seasonal thermal energy storage (F-STES) with efficient smart temperature control can be stored high energy density for a long time. Wind and solar excess from the summer months carry the greatest capacity in the winter months. The thermal energy potential of the F-STES is sufficient to provide the entire floating settlement. Lusatian Lakeland in Germany where has different riverbank structures and water quality is particularly a suitable experiment area to use the lake's thermal potential. This technology will be applied in a concept for the floating settlement structures on the lake in Großraeschen, Germany.
KEYWORDS: Seasonal thermal energy storage, Renewable energy, F-STES, floating settlement