This call aims to advance innovative technologies and concepts for Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) systems in dense urban areas. The objective is to develop novel technologies, interfaces, design methods, and organizational concepts that maximize the effective and sustainable use of subsurface space by UTES systems such as Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), Cavern Thermal Energy Storage (CTES), and Borehole Thermal Energy Storage (BTES). Projects should consider integration with existing energy grids and interactions with other urban subsurface uses, including structural foundation elements, tunnels, and underground utilities, to exploit geothermal heating, cooling, and storage opportunities.
Proposals should address uncertainties in seasonal energy demand to enhance predictability and optimize subsurface space usage and thermal efficiency. Projects are expected to deploy one or more demonstrators and may focus on areas such as optimal utilization of geothermal resources, subsurface models for sustainable thermal storage, integration with heat pumps and district heating infrastructures, and management of energy grids on an urban scale using digital twins. The initiative seeks significant reductions in the Levelized Cost of Heat Storage (LCOHS) and aims to engage local communities, responding to their expectations and enhancing public perception of underground thermal storage infrastructures.
The consortium should assess current regulatory contexts and provide recommendations to shape future policies, including regulatory, standardization, and permitting aspects. Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines are required to ensure effective citizen engagement and dialogue, translating innovation into real-life outputs.
Opening Date: 16 September 2025
Deadline: 17 February 2026
Data provided by Sciencebusiness.net
This funding opportunity represents a pre-agreed draft that has not yet been officially approved by the European Commission. The final, approved version is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2025. This draft is provided for informational purposes and may be used to preliminarily form consortia and develop project ideas, but it is offered without any guarantees or warranties.
