Catrin Tarnowski & Thomas Labda - Pit Thermal Energy Storage – A Sustainable Energy Resources with Geosynthetic Solution - July 2021

Catrin Tarnowski and Thomas Labda will discuss Pit Thermal Energy Storage – A Sustainable Energy Resources with Geosynthetic Solution in this webinar.

Webinar Description

Catrin Tarnowski and Thomas Labda will discuss Pit Thermal Energy Storage – A Sustainable Energy Resources with Geosynthetic Solution in this webinar.

The development of pit thermal energy storage (PTES) began 30 years ago in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The initial objective was to utilize heat-storage systems to increase the solar share of solar-thermal district heating to over 50%, thus reducing the costs of energy supply. Today, the objective is to establish a large and efficient seasonal or multifunctional energy storage system as economically as possible. These are then used to supply the entire residential areas or districts with green energy from a sustainable and renewable heat sources.

The PTES is a closed system containing water heated up to a high temperature – up to 95oC. It must be properly sealed with high-temperature resistant geomembranes and a geomembrane floating cover system. The importance of the sealing component does not only lie within the geomembrane, to achieve a high level operational efficiency of the PTES, other components include thermal insulation, gas venting and drainage system are equally important to control heat loss and water ingress, etc.

This webinar will focus on the geosynthetic solution and their contribution in PTES system. It details the design principles for the PTES, the essential requirements for the construction of the storage pits and the challenges during construction. Case studies demonstrating the successful application of innovative geosynthetic materials in achieving economic realization of PTES will also be presented.

About the presenters

Catrin Tarnowski

Catrin Tarnowski is the Senior Technical Manager – EMEA at Solmax Geosynthetics GmbH, providing technical support and engineering advice to engineers, consultants, customers, testing laboratories and authorities. Prior to joining SOLMAX, Catrin has more than 10 years of working experience in a third party inspection and testing laboratory for construction and geosynthetics engineering in Germany, responsible for managing the testing, test reports, accreditation of the laboratory and site inspections, 18 years in GSE Lining Technology for EMEA region and now SOLMAX Geosynthetics GmbH, serving for different positions and responsibilities in the company. Catrin is currently working out of SOLMAX office in Hamburg, Germany. Catrin is an active member of DIN; CEN and ISO, DVS, ASTM, leader of a Sub-working Group in CEN, and member of IGS and GSI. Catrin has also published numerous technical papers and presentations in various international and regional conferences and seminars in the past 20 years.

Thomas Labda

Thomas Labda is currently Key Account Manager – Renewable Energy of Solmax EMEA. Thomas previously served as Solmax’s Technical / Sales Manager in various European markets and applications. For the past two years, he has been in charge of the PTES development and application in SOLMAX Geosynthetics, as well as other research projects in renewable energy with the use of geosynthetics.