Current status of underground cave energy storage

How can large-scale energy storage be implemented in salt caverns?

Compressed air and hydrogen storage are two main available large-scale energy storage technologies, which are both successfully implemented in salt caverns . Therefore, large-scale energy storage in salt caverns will also be enormously developed to deal with the intermittent and fluctuations of renewable sources at the national or grid-scale.

Can underground salt caverns be used for compressed air energy storage?

The future development and challenges of underground salt caverns for compressed air energy storage in China are discussed, and the prospects for the three key technologies of large-diameter drilling and completion and wellbore integrity, solution mining morphology control and detection, and tubing corrosion and control are considered.

What is the energy scale of hydrogen storage in salt caverns?

The energy scale of hydrogen storage in salt caverns is much larger than that of gas storage in salt caverns. Meanwhile, the volume energy density of hydrogen is only 36% of that of natural gas under the same pressure. Using the same energy storage scale, the volume required for hydrogen storage in salt caverns is 2.77 times that for natural gas.

What are the disadvantages of deep underground energy storage?

Key theoretical and technical research challenges of deep underground energy storage Compared with the salt domes abroad, salt rocks in China are typical lacustrine sedimentary bedded rock salt , , , , and Chinese rock salt caverns thus have three disadvantages for energy storage. ① The rock salt formation is thin.

How much hydrogen is stored in a salt cavern?

Using the same energy storage scale, the volume required for hydrogen storage in salt caverns is 2.77 times that for natural gas. In addition, the peak-shaving of hydrogen storage in salt caverns is rated higher, which is estimated to be 6 ∼ 12 times per year, while the average gas storage is twice per year.

What are the five underground large-scale energy storage technologies?

In this work, the characteristics, key scientific problems and engineering challenges of five underground large-scale energy storage technologies are discussed and summarized, including underground oil and gas storage, compressed air storage, hydrogen storage, carbon storage, and pumped storage.