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Effects of groundwater flow on end-temperature of closed-loop systems used for cooling

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  • Adrinek, Simona
  • Prestor, Joerg
  • Pestotnik, Simona
  • Rman, Nina

Abstract

Stable subsurface temperatures provide a reliable source of shallow geothermal energy. This research is one of a few that investigates the potential of closed-loop systems for cold storage facilities. We listed 47 cold storage facilities in Slovenia and evaluated the capacity of two 50 m deep borehole heat exchangers that would penetrate one of five intergranular aquifers. As the Slovenian legislation does not define temperature thresholds of the heat carrier fluid, we applied – 3 °C and +24 °C as conservative boundary conditions. First, we quantified the possible amount of injected waste heat with the analytical model (EED) using seven scenarios. Further, we upgraded our results with the three scenarios in the numerical model (FEFLOW), including groundwater flow. The calculation revealed that the optimal natural conditions for geothermal cooling of cold storages are in the Sava Basin, where fast groundwater flow (7.2 m/day) increases possible injected heat in numerical calculation to more than 900 % compared to analytical calculation. Cooling capacities decrease from the Sava to Drava, Mura, Savinja and Krško Basins. Our research quantitatively confirms that areas with groundwater flow are more conductive to restoring underground temperatures through the injection of waste heat from cooling cold storages than areas without groundwater flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrinek, Simona & Prestor, Joerg & Pestotnik, Simona & Rman, Nina, 2026. "Effects of groundwater flow on end-temperature of closed-loop systems used for cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PE).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pe:s0960148125018981
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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