Loading…

The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels

A survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in the mid 1990s proved that a significant number of existing tunnels, with an estimated total heat potential of 30 MW t, is suitable for further development. The tunnel water available in five sites in the Alps is currently utilised for space...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geothermics 2003-08, Vol.32 (4), p.557-568
Main Authors: Wilhelm, Jules, Rybach, Ladislaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c399t-ed5f864f3eda083a2933c16dab74f67a8d435c2e4e7b179019b3f7967bd613113
cites
container_end_page 568
container_issue 4
container_start_page 557
container_title Geothermics
container_volume 32
creator Wilhelm, Jules
Rybach, Ladislaus
description A survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in the mid 1990s proved that a significant number of existing tunnels, with an estimated total heat potential of 30 MW t, is suitable for further development. The tunnel water available in five sites in the Alps is currently utilised for space heating and sanitary warm water supply, and five more will be available in the near future. An additional 30 MW t of geothermal energy is estimated to be available at the portals of two important Alpine tunnels now under construction, the Lötschberg (35 km long) and the Gotthard (57 km). A further approximately 35 MW t is expected from tunnels scheduled for construction during the next ten years. A total of almost 80 MW t could thus be achieved by 2012–2014. Theoretical estimates of the geothermal potential of future tunnels also account for cooling effects and the inevitable reductions in water inflow rate during and after tunnel construction. Advanced computational methods and practical tools for potential assessment have been developed in order to obtain realistic values and thus facilitate the early planning of near-portal heating systems. Careful planning and close cooperation between tunnel management and heat consumers can contribute to optimizing the utilization of this interesting form of geothermal energy.
doi_str_mv 10.1016/S0375-6505(03)00061-0
format article
fullrecord <record><control><sourceid>proquest_cross</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_28037706</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><els_id>S0375650503000610</els_id><sourcerecordid>28037706</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c399t-ed5f864f3eda083a2933c16dab74f67a8d435c2e4e7b179019b3f7967bd613113</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNqFkMtOwzAQRS0EEqXwCUjZgGARGMexHa9QVfGSKrFoWVuOM6ZGaRLsFMTfkz4ES1ZzF2fmag4h5xRuKFBxOwcmeSo48Ctg1wAgaAoHZEQLqVLGpTgko1_kmJzE-D5AkksYEVgsMXnDtl9iWJk66doem94PqXXJ_MvHmEzqzjeY9OumwTqekiNn6ohn-zkmrw_3i-lTOnt5fJ5OZqllSvUpVtwVIncMKwMFM5lizFJRmVLmTkhTVDnjNsMcZUmlAqpK5qQSsqwEZZSyMbnc3e1C-7HG2OuVjxbr2jTYrqPOiuElCeJfkOaiKLhSA8h3oA1tjAGd7oJfmfCtKeiNSL0VqTeWNDC9FTmEMbnYF5hoTe2CaayPf8s8kxnn-cDd7bjBEn56DDpaj43Fyge0va5a_0_TD1Lfhb4</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>14688599</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels</title><source>ScienceDirect Freedom Collection 2022-2024</source><creator>Wilhelm, Jules ; Rybach, Ladislaus</creator><creatorcontrib>Wilhelm, Jules ; Rybach, Ladislaus</creatorcontrib><description>A survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in the mid 1990s proved that a significant number of existing tunnels, with an estimated total heat potential of 30 MW t, is suitable for further development. The tunnel water available in five sites in the Alps is currently utilised for space heating and sanitary warm water supply, and five more will be available in the near future. An additional 30 MW t of geothermal energy is estimated to be available at the portals of two important Alpine tunnels now under construction, the Lötschberg (35 km long) and the Gotthard (57 km). A further approximately 35 MW t is expected from tunnels scheduled for construction during the next ten years. A total of almost 80 MW t could thus be achieved by 2012–2014. Theoretical estimates of the geothermal potential of future tunnels also account for cooling effects and the inevitable reductions in water inflow rate during and after tunnel construction. Advanced computational methods and practical tools for potential assessment have been developed in order to obtain realistic values and thus facilitate the early planning of near-portal heating systems. Careful planning and close cooperation between tunnel management and heat consumers can contribute to optimizing the utilization of this interesting form of geothermal energy.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0375-6505</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1879-3576</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1016/S0375-6505(03)00061-0</identifier><identifier>CODEN: GTMCAT</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Oxford: Elsevier Ltd</publisher><subject>Earth sciences ; Earth, ocean, space ; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics ; Exact sciences and technology ; Geothermal potential ; Geothermics ; Space heating ; Switzerland ; Tunnel water</subject><ispartof>Geothermics, 2003-08, Vol.32 (4), p.557-568</ispartof><rights>2003 CNR</rights><rights>2004 INIST-CNRS</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c399t-ed5f864f3eda083a2933c16dab74f67a8d435c2e4e7b179019b3f7967bd613113</citedby></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>309,310,314,776,780,785,786,23911,23912,25120,27903,27904</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttp://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetail&amp;idt=15272554$$DView record in Pascal Francis$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Wilhelm, Jules</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Rybach, Ladislaus</creatorcontrib><title>The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels</title><title>Geothermics</title><description>A survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in the mid 1990s proved that a significant number of existing tunnels, with an estimated total heat potential of 30 MW t, is suitable for further development. The tunnel water available in five sites in the Alps is currently utilised for space heating and sanitary warm water supply, and five more will be available in the near future. An additional 30 MW t of geothermal energy is estimated to be available at the portals of two important Alpine tunnels now under construction, the Lötschberg (35 km long) and the Gotthard (57 km). A further approximately 35 MW t is expected from tunnels scheduled for construction during the next ten years. A total of almost 80 MW t could thus be achieved by 2012–2014. Theoretical estimates of the geothermal potential of future tunnels also account for cooling effects and the inevitable reductions in water inflow rate during and after tunnel construction. Advanced computational methods and practical tools for potential assessment have been developed in order to obtain realistic values and thus facilitate the early planning of near-portal heating systems. Careful planning and close cooperation between tunnel management and heat consumers can contribute to optimizing the utilization of this interesting form of geothermal energy.</description><subject>Earth sciences</subject><subject>Earth, ocean, space</subject><subject>Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics</subject><subject>Exact sciences and technology</subject><subject>Geothermal potential</subject><subject>Geothermics</subject><subject>Space heating</subject><subject>Switzerland</subject><subject>Tunnel water</subject><issn>0375-6505</issn><issn>1879-3576</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2003</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNqFkMtOwzAQRS0EEqXwCUjZgGARGMexHa9QVfGSKrFoWVuOM6ZGaRLsFMTfkz4ES1ZzF2fmag4h5xRuKFBxOwcmeSo48Ctg1wAgaAoHZEQLqVLGpTgko1_kmJzE-D5AkksYEVgsMXnDtl9iWJk66doem94PqXXJ_MvHmEzqzjeY9OumwTqekiNn6ohn-zkmrw_3i-lTOnt5fJ5OZqllSvUpVtwVIncMKwMFM5lizFJRmVLmTkhTVDnjNsMcZUmlAqpK5qQSsqwEZZSyMbnc3e1C-7HG2OuVjxbr2jTYrqPOiuElCeJfkOaiKLhSA8h3oA1tjAGd7oJfmfCtKeiNSL0VqTeWNDC9FTmEMbnYF5hoTe2CaayPf8s8kxnn-cDd7bjBEn56DDpaj43Fyge0va5a_0_TD1Lfhb4</recordid><startdate>20030801</startdate><enddate>20030801</enddate><creator>Wilhelm, Jules</creator><creator>Rybach, Ladislaus</creator><general>Elsevier Ltd</general><general>Elsevier Science</general><scope>IQODW</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7ST</scope><scope>C1K</scope><scope>SOI</scope><scope>8FD</scope><scope>FR3</scope><scope>KR7</scope></search><sort><creationdate>20030801</creationdate><title>The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels</title><author>Wilhelm, Jules ; Rybach, Ladislaus</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c399t-ed5f864f3eda083a2933c16dab74f67a8d435c2e4e7b179019b3f7967bd613113</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2003</creationdate><topic>Earth sciences</topic><topic>Earth, ocean, space</topic><topic>Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics</topic><topic>Exact sciences and technology</topic><topic>Geothermal potential</topic><topic>Geothermics</topic><topic>Space heating</topic><topic>Switzerland</topic><topic>Tunnel water</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Wilhelm, Jules</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Rybach, Ladislaus</creatorcontrib><collection>Pascal-Francis</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><collection>Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><collection>Technology Research Database</collection><collection>Engineering Research Database</collection><collection>Civil Engineering Abstracts</collection><jtitle>Geothermics</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Wilhelm, Jules</au><au>Rybach, Ladislaus</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels</atitle><jtitle>Geothermics</jtitle><date>2003-08-01</date><risdate>2003</risdate><volume>32</volume><issue>4</issue><spage>557</spage><epage>568</epage><pages>557-568</pages><issn>0375-6505</issn><eissn>1879-3576</eissn><coden>GTMCAT</coden><abstract>A survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in the mid 1990s proved that a significant number of existing tunnels, with an estimated total heat potential of 30 MW t, is suitable for further development. The tunnel water available in five sites in the Alps is currently utilised for space heating and sanitary warm water supply, and five more will be available in the near future. An additional 30 MW t of geothermal energy is estimated to be available at the portals of two important Alpine tunnels now under construction, the Lötschberg (35 km long) and the Gotthard (57 km). A further approximately 35 MW t is expected from tunnels scheduled for construction during the next ten years. A total of almost 80 MW t could thus be achieved by 2012–2014. Theoretical estimates of the geothermal potential of future tunnels also account for cooling effects and the inevitable reductions in water inflow rate during and after tunnel construction. Advanced computational methods and practical tools for potential assessment have been developed in order to obtain realistic values and thus facilitate the early planning of near-portal heating systems. Careful planning and close cooperation between tunnel management and heat consumers can contribute to optimizing the utilization of this interesting form of geothermal energy.</abstract><cop>Oxford</cop><pub>Elsevier Ltd</pub><doi>10.1016/S0375-6505(03)00061-0</doi><tpages>12</tpages></addata></record>
fulltext fulltext
identifier ISSN: 0375-6505
ispartof Geothermics, 2003-08, Vol.32 (4), p.557-568
issn 0375-6505
1879-3576
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_28037706
source ScienceDirect Freedom Collection 2022-2024
subjects Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Geothermal potential
Geothermics
Space heating
Switzerland
Tunnel water
title The geothermal potential of Swiss Alpine tunnels
url http://sfxeu10.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/loughborough?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-27T17%3A02%3A25IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_cross&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=The%20geothermal%20potential%20of%20Swiss%20Alpine%20tunnels&rft.jtitle=Geothermics&rft.au=Wilhelm,%20Jules&rft.date=2003-08-01&rft.volume=32&rft.issue=4&rft.spage=557&rft.epage=568&rft.pages=557-568&rft.issn=0375-6505&rft.eissn=1879-3576&rft.coden=GTMCAT&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/S0375-6505(03)00061-0&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_cross%3E28037706%3C/proquest_cross%3E%3Cgrp_id%3Ecdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c399t-ed5f864f3eda083a2933c16dab74f67a8d435c2e4e7b179019b3f7967bd613113%3C/grp_id%3E%3Coa%3E%3C/oa%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=14688599&rft_id=info:pmid/&rfr_iscdi=true