Design and economics of a solar heater aquifer storage system

Water bearing formations or aquifers provide promising, long-term storage for solar energy at the cost of two or more water wells. This study combines aquifer simulation with solar heater and short-term surface storage simulation in a parametric economic study of aquifer-solar energy systems. Aquifer storage-solar heater systems are shown to have considerable cost potential in large, space heating applications. As with conventional systems, the heater area is still the principal cost. The use of short-term surface storage is shown to be cost effective with large ratios of heat area to well flow rate. 8 refs.