ATES Expert Workshop concludes in Seoul, focusing on knowledge sharing and future applications in South Korea
On October 22, 2024, the Dutch Embassy in South Korea hosted an ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage) expert workshop in Seoul. The event brought together experts to share knowledge and discuss the application of ATES systems, widely used in the Netherlands, to foster growth in South Korea's market.
Background
The Dutch Embassy in Seoul strongly believes in the constructive role the Netherlands can play in the development of smart farming in Korea. A fundamental part of smart farming is energy-efficient technology from a sustainable resource. During the trade mission with the former Dutch minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to Korea in 2023 and the innovation mission on energy innovative horticulture to the Netherlands this year, there was a strong focus on Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage* (ATES) technology. At the same time, ATES holds enormous potential for other industries, such as hospitals, offices, shopping malls, and other industries.
In October, the embassy invited the Dutch companies DTESS and Witteveen+Bos to give a workshop about ATES technology and discuss the way forward for this technology in Korea. The workshop introduced ATES, focusing on critical success factors, workflow for implementation, procedures, and conditions, business case development and analysis, energy savings, and some references and case studies.
*Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is the storage and recovery of thermal energy in so-called subsurface aquifers. ATES can heat and cool buildings. Storage and recovery is achieved by extracting and injecting groundwater using wells. The technology has major potential for reducing dependency on fossil resources.
ATES Workshop on October 22
Keynote speakers included Rick Nobel, the Agricultural Counsellor of the Dutch Embassy, who highlighted the deepening collaboration between the Netherlands and South Korea, particularly with establishing "ATES Korea," and emphasized the potential for reducing the technological gap in the field. Kim Nam-hoon, the CEO of ATES Korea, also shared insights on his visits to the Netherlands to explore ATES applications and ongoing projects to identify domestic sites for similar implementations.
The workshop featured presentations on the technical aspects and benefits of ATES systems. Saleh Mohammadi, a senior researcher at Witteveen+Bos, explained the operation principles of ATES, a geothermal system that stores heat underground during winter for cooling in the summer. ATES systems offer significant energy savings, with up to 90% cooling efficiencies and heating savings of 50%. They are adaptable for small and large-scale projects and have minimal environmental impact, making them suitable for densely populated urban areas. Mohammadi emphasized the success of ATES in the Netherlands, where over 3,000 installations are operational, primarily in factories, hospitals, and universities, integrating with smart heating and cooling grids.
Next steps for ATES application in Korea
The workshop also delved into the economic and technical challenges of implementing ATES systems in South Korea. Speakers highlighted the importance of accurate geological data and the need for thorough site assessments before installation. Barriers such as the cost of initial investments and regulatory challenges were discussed, along with strategies for optimizing system design. The comparison between the ATES applications in South Korea's Eco-Delta City and the Netherlands indicated that while South Korea has a more significant seasonal temperature variation, making it more suitable for cooling, specific technical adjustments may be necessary due to differing geological conditions. Participants also discussed the integration of ATES with other renewable energy systems like solar and biomass, reinforcing its potential for achieving carbon neutrality and improving energy efficiency in the long term. The Dutch stakeholders met with various businesses and government representatives during their stay in Korea, in order to plan and identify next steps for ATES implementation in Korea.