Policies for aquifer thermal energy storage: international comparison, barriers and recommendations

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) represents a promising solution for heating and cooling, offering lower greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy consumption than conventional technologies. Despite these benefits and the widespread availability of suitable aquifers, ATES has yet to see widespread utilisation, with uptake highly concentrated in select countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark). Beyond technical and hydrogeological feasibility, appropriate national policies are paramount in driving ATES deployment. This study provides an international comparison of ATES policies, highlighting best practices and revealing where measures are missing. It sources insights from a survey of experts across academia, industry and governmental bodies in 30 countries, complemented by semi-structured expert interviews. The study reveals significant differences in the existence and strength of supportive policy environments between countries with different ATES market maturity. A mere 33