Hydraulically fractured hard rock aquifer for seasonal storage of solar thermal energy

The intermittent nature of solar thermal energy derives from its oversupply during the low season and undersupply during the peak season. The solution is to accumulate and store the surplus energy that can be used in times of high demand and low supply. The HYDROCK concept is a method developed for seasonal heat storage in artificially fractured bedrock. This study aims to investigate the rock fracturing process in the construction of hydraulically fractured hard rock aquifer for seasonal storage of thermal energy. The primary objective of this study is to perform a sensitivity analysis of numerical simulations of rock fracturing processes that are taking place during the development of artificially fractured heat storage in hard rocks. Coupled hydro-mechanical numerical models are generated using rock fracture mechanics code FRACOD2D. The sensitivity of critical parameters is presented, and all relevant influencing factors are investigated. Suggestions for practical applications of HYDROCK are given.