IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i2p825-d1031938.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage

Author

Listed:
  • Julian David Hunt

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Behnam Zakeri

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Jakub Jurasz

    (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Wenxuan Tong

    (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Paweł B. Dąbek

    (Institute of Environmental Protection and Development, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Roberto Brandão

    (Electric Sector Study Group, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil)

  • Epari Ritesh Patro

    (Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland)

  • Bojan Đurin

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University North, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia)

  • Walter Leal Filho

    (Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 20999 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Yoshihide Wada

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
    Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, East Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia)

  • Bas van Ruijven

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Keywan Riahi

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 Ri, 2023. "Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:825-:d:1031938
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/825/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/825/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hunt, Julian David & Jurasz, Jakub & Zakeri, Behnam & Nascimento, Andreas & Cross, Samuel & Caten, Carla Schwengber ten & de Jesus Pacheco, Diego Augusto & Pongpairoj, Pharima & Filho, Walter Leal & T, 2022. "Electric Truck Hydropower, a flexible solution to hydropower in mountainous regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    2. Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Lopes, Rafael & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco & Nascimento, Andreas & Castro, Nivalde José de & Brandão, Roberto & Schneider, Paulo Smith & Wada, Yoshihide, 2020. "Existing and new arrangements of pumped-hydro storage plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Hunt, Julian David & Freitas, Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos & Pereira Junior, Amaro Olímipio, 2014. "Enhanced-Pumped-Storage: Combining pumped-storage in a yearly storage cycle with dams in cascade in Brazil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 513-523.
    4. Hunt, Julian David & Guillot, Vincent & Freitas, Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos de & Solari, Renzo S.E., 2016. "Energy crop storage: An alternative to resolve the problem of unpredictable hydropower generation in Brazil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 91-99.
    5. Rodrigues, E.M.G. & Godina, R. & Santos, S.F. & Bizuayehu, A.W. & Contreras, J. & Catalão, J.P.S., 2014. "Energy storage systems supporting increased penetration of renewables in islanded systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 265-280.
    6. Zakeri, Behnam & Syri, Sanna, 2015. "Electrical energy storage systems: A comparative life cycle cost analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 569-596.
    7. Julian D. Hunt & Edward Byers & Yoshihide Wada & Simon Parkinson & David E. H. J. Gernaat & Simon Langan & Detlef P. Vuuren & Keywan Riahi, 2020. "Global resource potential of seasonal pumped hydropower storage for energy and water storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Yang, Yuqing & Bremner, Stephen & Menictas, Chris & Kay, Merlinde, 2018. "Battery energy storage system size determination in renewable energy systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 109-125.
    9. Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Falchetta, Giacomo & Nascimento, Andreas & Wada, Yoshihide & Riahi, Keywan, 2020. "Mountain Gravity Energy Storage: A new solution for closing the gap between existing short- and long-term storage technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Taibi, Emanuele & Fernández del Valle, Carlos & Howells, Mark, 2018. "Strategies for solar and wind integration by leveraging flexibility from electric vehicles: The Barbados case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 65-78.
    11. Hamdy, Sarah & Morosuk, Tatiana & Tsatsaronis, George, 2019. "Exergoeconomic optimization of an adiabatic cryogenics-based energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 812-824.
    12. Newbery, David, 2018. "Shifting demand and supply over time and space to manage intermittent generation: The economics of electrical storage," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 711-720.
    13. Kapila, Sahil & Oni, Abayomi Olufemi & Kumar, Amit, 2017. "The development of techno-economic models for large-scale energy storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 656-672.
    14. Morstyn, Thomas & Chilcott, Martin & McCulloch, Malcolm D., 2019. "Gravity energy storage with suspended weights for abandoned mine shafts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 201-206.
    15. Luo, Xing & Wang, Jihong & Dooner, Mark & Clarke, Jonathan, 2015. "Overview of current development in electrical energy storage technologies and the application potential in power system operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 511-536.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Jurasz, Jakub & Dąbek, Paweł B. & Barbosa, Paulo Sergio Franco & Brandão, Roberto & de Castro, Nivalde José & Leal Filho, Walter & Riahi, Ke, 2022. "Lift Energy Storage Technology: A solution for decentralized urban energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    2. Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Falchetta, Giacomo & Nascimento, Andreas & Wada, Yoshihide & Riahi, Keywan, 2020. "Mountain Gravity Energy Storage: A new solution for closing the gap between existing short- and long-term storage technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Hunt, Julian David & Jurasz, Jakub & Zakeri, Behnam & Nascimento, Andreas & Cross, Samuel & Caten, Carla Schwengber ten & de Jesus Pacheco, Diego Augusto & Pongpairoj, Pharima & Filho, Walter Leal & T, 2022. "Electric Truck Hydropower, a flexible solution to hydropower in mountainous regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    4. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco, 2022. "Hydrogen Deep Ocean Link: a global sustainable interconnected energy grid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    5. Papadakis C. Nikolaos & Fafalakis Marios & Katsaprakakis Dimitris, 2023. "A Review of Pumped Hydro Storage Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-39, June.
    6. Julian David Hunt & Andreas Nascimento & Oldrich Joel Romero Guzman & Gilton Carlos de Andrade Furtado & Carla Schwengber ten Caten & Fernanda Munari Caputo Tomé & Walter Leal Filho & Bojan Đurin & Ma, 2022. "Sedimentary Basin Water and Energy Storage: A Low Environmental Impact Option for the Bananal Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Julian David Hunt & Behnam Zakeri & Andreas Nascimento & Diego Augusto de Jesus Pacheco & Epari Ritesh Patro & Bojan Đurin & Márcio Giannini Pereira & Walter Leal Filho & Yoshihide Wada, 2023. "Isothermal Deep Ocean Compressed Air Energy Storage: An Affordable Solution for Seasonal Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco & Costalonga, Leandro, 2022. "Seawater air-conditioning and ammonia district cooling: A solution for warm coastal regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    9. Jurasz, Jakub & Piasecki, Adam & Hunt, Julian & Zheng, Wandong & Ma, Tao & Kies, Alexander, 2022. "Building integrated pumped-storage potential on a city scale: An analysis based on geographic information systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    10. Simon Lineykin & Abhishek Sharma & Moshe Averbukh, 2023. "Eventual Increase in Solar Electricity Production and Desalinated Water through the Formation of a Channel between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Lin, Boqiang & Wu, Wei & Bai, Mengqi & Xie, Chunping & Radcliffe, Jonathan, 2019. "Liquid air energy storage: Price arbitrage operations and sizing optimization in the GB real-time electricity market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 647-655.
    12. Yang, Yuqing & Bremner, Stephen & Menictas, Chris & Kay, Merlinde, 2022. "Modelling and optimal energy management for battery energy storage systems in renewable energy systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    13. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Caten, Carla Schwengber ten & Tomé, Fernanda Munari Caputo & Schneider, Paulo Smith & Thomazoni, André Luis Ribeiro & Castro, Nivalde José de & Brandão, Robe, 2022. "Energy crisis in Brazil: Impact of hydropower reservoir level on the river flow," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    14. Rahman, Md Mustafizur & Oni, Abayomi Olufemi & Gemechu, Eskinder & Kumar, Amit, 2021. "The development of techno-economic models for the assessment of utility-scale electro-chemical battery storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    15. Topalović, Zejneba & Haas, Reinhard & Ajanović, Amela & Hiesl, Albert, 2022. "Economics of electric energy storage. The case of Western Balkans," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    16. Haupt, Leon & Schöpf, Michael & Wederhake, Lars & Weibelzahl, Martin, 2020. "The influence of electric vehicle charging strategies on the sizing of electrical energy storage systems in charging hub microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    17. Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Lopes, Rafael & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco & Nascimento, Andreas & Castro, Nivalde José de & Brandão, Roberto & Schneider, Paulo Smith & Wada, Yoshihide, 2020. "Existing and new arrangements of pumped-hydro storage plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    18. O'Callaghan, O. & Donnellan, P., 2021. "Liquid air energy storage systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    19. Huang, Qisheng & Xu, Yunjian & Courcoubetis, Costas, 2020. "Stackelberg competition between merchant and regulated storage investment in wholesale electricity markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    20. Pusceddu, Elian & Zakeri, Behnam & Castagneto Gissey, Giorgio, 2021. "Synergies between energy arbitrage and fast frequency response for battery energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:825-:d:1031938. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.