Fluid injection in a geologic layer shifts pressure and stress conditions and may trigger the reactivation of pre-existing faults. We present an approach to describe changes in the stress-field upon such an induced seismic event by applying characteristic stress-drop terms based on reported literature values for a great variety of earthquakes, even at very different magnitudes. The article illustrates exemplary results and discusses also the effect of permeability on expectable seismicity.

The study presented in this paper aims at reproducing findings from chemical and isotopic groundwater sample analysis along with quantifying the influence of regional (cross-boundary) flow for the area of Berlin, Germany. For this purpose we built 3-D models of the subsurface, populating them with material parameters (e.g. porosity, permeability) and solving them for coupled fluid and heat transport. Special focus was given to the setup of boundary conditions, i.e. fixed pressure at the sides.

The aim of the study is to identify the essential parameters of a sustainable expansion of renewable energies from the diversity of potential influencing factors and to illustrate them based on a regional case study. The analyses reveal the great regional assertiveness of photovoltaics, whereby wind energy can assert itself due to social parameters also at some locations, particularly in the central part of the study area, against the economically often better positioned photovoltaics.

Since current efforts are insufficient to limit global warming “to well below 2 °C” until 2100, as agreed upon in the Paris Agreement, the need to rely on new technological solutions, designated as geoengineering, is almost unavoidable. I found that even ‘green’ forms of geoengineering would conflict with the human right to adequate food. Therefore, I conclude that we should not rely on a single geoengineering technology but favorize a mix of various technologies and increase mitigation efforts.

The aim of the EU funded Cheap-GSHPs project is to reduce the total installation cost of closed-loop shallow geothermal systems. As part of the project a Decision Support System has been developed and released on the web, in order to support the designers. The paper presents the databases that support the DSS: the databases collect and elaborate all the preliminary data necessary during the sizing, such as the geological and drilling aspects as well as the heating and cooling building demand.

This study compares the environmental performances of the combination of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis technologies in different regions of the world focusing on alternative uses of biogas. Using biogas as transportation fuel in Sweden has significant environmental advantages over other scenarios, biogas for heat and electricity in the power sector in Brazil and biogas for cooking in households in China.

A potential post-closure release of radionuclides from a KBS-3 spent fuel repository depends on the failure modes of copper canisters. It is generally accepted that a combined erosion/corrosion case and future large earthquakes could cause such failures. In paper, we address other proposed failure modes, not by assessing their relative merits but rather their potential consequences. It is judged that a hypothetical poor creep ductility of copper would have the largest potential consequences.

In this study, we are interested in quantifying natural fracture density variability, at any scale. We develop and numerically validate analytical solutions considering stochastic Discrete Fracture Networks, with application to networks following power-law fracture size distributions. Particularly, we show that for this kind of networks, the scaling of three-dimensional fracture density variability clearly depends on the power-law exponent, but not on the orientation distribution.

Faint earth tremors may occur when exploiting geological reservoirs to extract hydrocarbons, produce geothermal energy, or store CO2. This microseismicity may reveal the location of fractures within the reservoir, and the mechanical stresses acting on them. We present and demonstrate (on laboratory data) a new workflow for analysing microseismic data, considering fracture models relevant to geoengineering applications to infer fracture mechanisms and the stress conditions local to them.

The focus of the paper is to evaluate the permeability change of a matrix-fracture systems under mechanical loading und to understand the processes behind. This evaluation is based on data from laboratory experiments in comparison to 3-D numerical modelling results.

In a chaotic system, like moist convection, it is difficult to separate the impact of a physical process from effects of natural variability. This is because modifying even a small element of the system physics typically leads to a different system evolution. This paper discusses a relatively simple and computationally efficient modelling methodology that allows separation of the physical impact from differences originating from contrasting flow realizations.

This study investigated profiles of air toxics from mobile sources, stationary sources, and the operations in a port in an industrial metropolitan area in Taiwan. Six carcinogens, including benzene, formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, arsenic, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, and diesel particulate matter (DPM), were chosen as the target pollutants. DPM was the pollutant that posed the highest cancer risk among all six air toxics. The dominant sources of DPM were ocean-going vessels and diesel trucks.

This paper presents a case study from the Sherwood Sandstone Group of North-West England. Measurements taken from published outcrop data and borehole core were used to give an indicative ratio of height to length of different types of unit within the group. This ratio can be used to predict the distribution of these units in the subsurface where information is limited to borehole core. The information can be used to model how water and gases move through these sandstones.

District heating and cooling systems are a viable sustainable solution to provide heat and cold in urban environments. We describe fifth generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) systems and show how this concept differs from conventional district heating systems. A 5GDHC system is decentralized, bi-directional, close to ground temperature networks that use direct exchange of warm and cold return flows and thermal storage to balance thermal demand as much as possible.

Malmfjärden Bay is semi-enclosed bay located in southeastern Sweden. The water body is currently shallow and requires dredging of bottom sediments to prevent a decreasing water level. This study aimed to characterize its sediments to define potential beneficial uses. The sediments are rich in organic content, have a high concentration of nitrogen and a low–medium concentration of metals. According to Swedish legislation, such sediments can only be employed in industrial and commercial areas.

Salt caverns are important as subsurface storage space. Knowledge of geochemical interactions in the transition zone between cavity and salt rock is necessary. Lab-based experiments were performed in hand-sized specimens by creating cm-sized cavities. XRF mapping represents a suitable technique to track spatial mineralogical changes related to rock-fluid interaction in salt rocks and showed a clear separation between Na, Mg and K salt layers. Fluorescent visualize potential fluid pathways.

The increase of drought periods and the high water volume demand for agricultural purposes in Italy suggest to evaluate a full and rational use of all water resources, leading to a rediscovery and enhancement of untapped resources. Specifically, this research focuses on small reservoirs and on their potential contribution to a sustainable water management in agriculture.

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) performs experiments in the Swiss Mont Terri rock laboratory to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of a repository. Activities and results by BGR from actual and still ongoing experiments are presented exemplarily focusing on main aspects regarding the behaviour of underground facilities. BGR's focus lies mainly on aspects of the construction, post-closure transient, and partly post-closure equilibrium phases.

In this study we investigate groundwater flow in the deep subsurface of the Upper Rhine Graben. We make use of a 3-D numerical model covering the entire Upper Rhine Graben. The deep hydrodynamics are characterized by fluid flow from the graben flanks towards its center and in the southern half of the graben from south to north. Moreover, local heterogeneities in the shallow flow field arise from the interaction between regional groundwater flow and the heterogeneous sedimentary configuration.

In this paper we investigate the application of a solar-powered bus route to a small-scale transportation system, as such of a university campus. We investigate three different scenarios: (1) solar panels installed on the roof of bus stop shelters, (2) solar panels installed at unused open space in the university, and (3) solar roads, i.e. roads constructed by photovoltaic (PV) materials. We conclude that scenario (2) presents the lowest capital cost in relation to energy generation.

We have developed a first Germany-wide 3D data-based density and temperature model integrating geoscientific observations and physical processes. The model can serve as a reference for local detailed studies dealing with temperature, pressure, stress, subsidence and sedimentation. Our results help to improve subsurface utilization concepts, reveal current geomechanical conditions crucial for hazard assessment and gather information on viable resources such groundwater and deep geothermal energy.