Underground energy storage development experience

What are underground energy storage systems?

This paper clarifies the framework of underground energy storage systems, including underground gas storage (UGS), underground oil storage (UOS), underground thermal storage (UTS) and compressed air energy storage (CAES), and the global development of underground energy storage systems in porous media is systematically reviewed.

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.

Why is deep underground energy storage important?

It is an effective way to implement SPRs, natural gas peak shaving, a sustainable supply of renewable energy, and the large-scale and efficient utilization of hydrogen. The development of deep underground energy storage is a key issue in achieving carbon neutrality and upgrading China’s energy structure.

Can deep underground energy storage be developed in China?

The solution to these key scientific and technological problems lies in establishing a theoretical and technical foundation for the development of large-scale deep underground energy storage in China. 1. Introduction China must urgently transition to low-carbon energy consumption in order to meet the challenges of global warming.

How deep is the underground space for energy storage?

The underground space for energy storage mainly includes porous or fractured porous media (e.g., depleted oil and gas reservoirs, aquifers) and caverns (e.g., salt caverns, rock caves, abandoned mines or pits) (Jannel and Torquet, 2021) (Fig. 3). The depth can range from several hundred meters to several kilometers (Kabuth et al., 2017).

What are the challenges faced by underground energy storage projects?

The common scientific and technical challenges faced by these underground energy storage projects include 1) geological sealing, safety and potential leakage risk affected by the multifield coupling effect; 2) dynamic storage capacity and operating efficiency under complex geological conditions; and 3) negative environmental impact.