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Potential impacts of geothermal energy use and storage of heat on groundwater quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem processes

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Abstract

Geothermal energy plays an increasingly important role as a renewable energy source. However, it induces temperature changes in natural thermally static groundwater ecosystems. Temperature impacts can considerably alter the groundwater chemical composition and quality, the metabolism of organisms, and, consequently, biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functions. Combining original data from current studies with a compact review of recent findings, we show that a moderate increase in groundwater/aquifer temperature [+5 to 10 Kelvin (K)] generally causes only minor changes in water chemistry, microbial biodiversity, and ecosystem function in non-contaminated and energy-poor (oligotrophic) groundwater systems. In aquifers that are contaminated with organics, nutrients, and heavy metals—typical in urban areas and at sites with intensive land use (e.g., agriculture)—and particularly at temperatures ≥30 °C as regularly reached when heat is actively stored in aquifers, significant changes in water quality and ecological patterns can result. Here most critical are the heat-related mobilization of organic matter and contaminants (e.g., arsenic), the reduction and depletion of dissolved oxygen, and consequently the consecutive shift to anaerobic redox processes that may produce toxic and corrosive products (e.g., hydrogen sulfide) and greenhouse gases (e.g., methane and carbon dioxide). Severe temperature alterations lead to a reduced biodiversity of the aquifer’s microbial community with the establishment of atypical thermophilic assemblages. Groundwater fauna, which is specifically adapted to the cold groundwater habitat, may be sensitive to thermal changes at temperature increases of only 5 K with long-term emigration or direct lethal effects. From an ecological point of view, long-lasting or reoccurring temperature alterations need to be carefully evaluated and regulated in the future. We suggest developing local and regional vulnerability concepts for the sustainable and ecologically sound use of subterranean heat and cold.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the German Environment Agency (UFO-PLAN; Forschungskennzahl 3710 23 204) and the Life Science Foundation (http://www.life-science-stiftung.org/). We are grateful to B. Kirschbaum (UBA, Dessau-Berlin), W. Adam (Wasserwirtschaftsamt Freising), H. König and F. Meyfarth (Texas Instruments Germany, Freising), E. Schrade, V. Hammerl, R. Schaupp, K. Groißmeier and A. Balmert (all TUM) as well as G. Hinreiner, G. Teichmann, S. Schaefer, and M. Stoeckl (Helmholtz Zentrum München, IGÖ) for project assistance, support, and valuable discussion. We further thank the members of the scientific board of the UBA project for critical comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Christian Griebler, Sigrid Kaschuba, Claudia Kellermann, Christine Stumpp, Florian Hegler & Tillmann Lueders

  2. Hernalser Hauptstrasse 172, 1170, Vienna, Austria

    Heike Brielmann

  3. University of Tübingen, Center for Applied Geoscience, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany

    Christina M. Haberer

  4. TEWAG, Technologie - Erdwärmeanlagen - Umweltschutz GmbH, Niederlassung Starzach, Am Haag 12, 72181, Starzach, Germany

    David Kuntz & Simone Walker-Hertkorn

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  1. Christian Griebler
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Correspondence to Christian Griebler.

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This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on ‘Water in Germany’, guest edited by Daniel Karthe, Peter Chifflard, Bernd Cyffka, Lucas Menzel, Heribert Nacken, Uta Raeder, Mario Sommerhäuser, and Markus Weiler.

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Griebler, C., Brielmann, H., Haberer, C.M. et al. Potential impacts of geothermal energy use and storage of heat on groundwater quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem processes. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1391 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6207-z

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