PUSH-IT members gather in Darmstadt to discuss the project’s progress
Last week, the entire PUSH-IT project team met for two days at TU Darmstadt, Germany, to review what’s been accomplished so far and plan the next steps for the project. With the project now almost halfway through its four-year timeline, it was the perfect moment to reflect on progress and explore ways to keep pushing the project forward.
On the first day, teams from the six pilot sites—Delft, Bochum, Darmstadt, Berlin, Litoměřice, and United Downs—provided updates on the work at their sites. Different work packages also presented results, covering key topics like social engagement, optimal system integration, and enabling technologies.
The second day focused on workshops and discussions around important issues, such as stakeholder management, communication strategies, risk mitigation, and optimizing system integration.
One of the highlights was a visit to the borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) site on the Lichtwiese Campus in Darmstadt, which is being developed as part of the PUSH-IT project. This world-first demonstration features three 750-meter-deep boreholes that store heat underground. The boreholes act as heat exchangers, with heat stored in the surrounding ground and retrieved when needed. The project aims to connect this BTES system to the campus heat network.
The General Assembly was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate, share experiences, and learn from each other. With an international team, the pilot sites can exchange ideas and best practices, helping to accelerate the development of underground heat storage.
A big thanks to TU Darmstadt for organizing this year’s event! We look forward to seeing everyone next year in Bochum!
PUSH-IT is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101096566.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
