Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage
Low-carbon energy transitions taking place worldwide are primarily driven by the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. These variable renewable energy (VRE) sources require energy storage options to match energy demand reliably at different time scales. This article s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/825 |
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| author | Julian David Hunt Behnam Zakeri Jakub Jurasz Wenxuan Tong Paweł B. Dąbek Roberto Brandão Epari Ritesh Patro Bojan Đurin Walter Leal Filho Yoshihide Wada Bas van Ruijven Keywan Riahi |
| author_facet | Julian David Hunt Behnam Zakeri Jakub Jurasz Wenxuan Tong Paweł B. Dąbek Roberto Brandão Epari Ritesh Patro Bojan Đurin Walter Leal Filho Yoshihide Wada Bas van Ruijven Keywan Riahi |
| author_sort | Julian David Hunt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low-carbon energy transitions taking place worldwide are primarily driven by the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. These variable renewable energy (VRE) sources require energy storage options to match energy demand reliably at different time scales. This article suggests using a gravitational-based energy storage method by making use of decommissioned underground mines as storage reservoirs, using a vertical shaft and electric motor/generators for lifting and dumping large volumes of sand. The proposed technology, called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES), can discharge electricity by lowering large volumes of sand into an underground mine through the mine shaft. When there is excess electrical energy in the grid, UGES can store electricity by elevating sand from the mine and depositing it in upper storage sites on top of the mine. Unlike battery energy storage, the energy storage medium of UGES is sand, which means the self-discharge rate of the system is zero, enabling ultra-long energy storage times. Furthermore, the use of sand as storage media alleviates any risk for contaminating underground water resources as opposed to an underground pumped hydro storage alternative. UGES offers weekly to pluriannual energy storage cycles with energy storage investment costs of about 1 to 10 USD/kWh. The technology is estimated to have a global energy storage potential of 7 to 70 TWh and can support sustainable development, mainly by providing seasonal energy storage services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:51:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4939a89df0544dc3b414911d6856c424 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:51:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4939a89df0544dc3b414911d6856c4242023-11-30T22:04:37ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-01-0116282510.3390/en16020825Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy StorageJulian David Hunt0Behnam Zakeri1Jakub Jurasz2Wenxuan Tong3Paweł B. Dąbek4Roberto Brandão5Epari Ritesh Patro6Bojan Đurin7Walter Leal Filho8Yoshihide Wada9Bas van Ruijven10Keywan Riahi11International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, AustriaInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, AustriaFaculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, PolandSchool of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaInstitute of Environmental Protection and Development, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, PolandElectric Sector Study Group, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, BrazilWater, Energy, and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, FinlandDepartment of Civil Engineering, University North, 48000 Koprivnica, CroatiaFaculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20999 Hamburg, GermanyInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, AustriaInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, AustriaInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, AustriaLow-carbon energy transitions taking place worldwide are primarily driven by the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. These variable renewable energy (VRE) sources require energy storage options to match energy demand reliably at different time scales. This article suggests using a gravitational-based energy storage method by making use of decommissioned underground mines as storage reservoirs, using a vertical shaft and electric motor/generators for lifting and dumping large volumes of sand. The proposed technology, called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES), can discharge electricity by lowering large volumes of sand into an underground mine through the mine shaft. When there is excess electrical energy in the grid, UGES can store electricity by elevating sand from the mine and depositing it in upper storage sites on top of the mine. Unlike battery energy storage, the energy storage medium of UGES is sand, which means the self-discharge rate of the system is zero, enabling ultra-long energy storage times. Furthermore, the use of sand as storage media alleviates any risk for contaminating underground water resources as opposed to an underground pumped hydro storage alternative. UGES offers weekly to pluriannual energy storage cycles with energy storage investment costs of about 1 to 10 USD/kWh. The technology is estimated to have a global energy storage potential of 7 to 70 TWh and can support sustainable development, mainly by providing seasonal energy storage services.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/825climate changeenergy systems analysisenergy transitiongravitational energy storagesmart grid managementelectricity storage model |
| spellingShingle | Julian David Hunt Behnam Zakeri Jakub Jurasz Wenxuan Tong Paweł B. Dąbek Roberto Brandão Epari Ritesh Patro Bojan Đurin Walter Leal Filho Yoshihide Wada Bas van Ruijven Keywan Riahi Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage Energies climate change energy systems analysis energy transition gravitational energy storage smart grid management electricity storage model |
| title | Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage |
| title_full | Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage |
| title_fullStr | Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage |
| title_short | Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage |
| title_sort | underground gravity energy storage a solution for long term energy storage |
| topic | climate change energy systems analysis energy transition gravitational energy storage smart grid management electricity storage model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/825 |
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