ATES Vienna aims at the development of underground, thermal high-temperature- (>40°C) and large capacity- (>10GWh) quifer storage systems ( ), including integration options for the Austrian district heating sector. The project will focus on the identification and characterization of available resources. On the basis of this analysis, a detailed technical concept for the first ATES pilot project in the Vienna area is being developed, which envisages the use of existing hydrocarbon wells and new wells. There are hardly any comparable projects in Europe. There are no aquifer storage facilities in Austria yet.