German coal mine energy storage

What are Germany's coal reserves?

Germany's coal reserves are estimated to be close to 5% of the world's total. Germany has Europe's largest lignite mine, the Garzweiler mine. Coal is essential to Germany's economy as it has been the country's chief source of energy since the industrial revolution.

How much hard coal is mineable in Germany?

Of the 83 billion tonnes of hard coal still in the ground in Germany, 36 million tonnes are considered mineable. However, their extremely deep and complicated geological location makes mining too costly to compete on the world market.

Can a coal mine be used as a thermal energy storage plant?

The concept of this pilot plant aims at the reutilization of an abandoned coal mine, which is directly located under the premises of the IEG in Bochum, as a high temperature mine thermal energy storage.

Can lignite be Germany's Green powerhouse?

LEAG is a leading operator of large-scale lignite mining and coal-fired generation in Eastern Germany that is implementing a vision to transform the coal-dependent region into Germany’s Green Powerhouse. The company plans to develop 7-14 GW of renewable generation paired with 2-3 GWh of energy storage and 2 GW of green hydrogen production.

Will ESS Tech become Germany's Green powerhouse?

Summary: U.S. energy storage technology manufacturer ESS Tech, Inc. and German energy provider LEAG cooperate to scale up iron-flow technology to provide long-duration energy storage as part of LEAG’s strategy to become Germany’s Green Powerhouse.

How many tons of coal was produced at a colliery?

Currently, the groundwater level resides at a depth of approximately 21 m below ground. Overall, the colliery produced 37,043 tons of coal. Based on a calculation with a coal density of 1.35 g/cm 3, we can assume a void volume of approx. 27,439 m 3.