Can abandoned mines store energy?

An international team of researchers led by IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) has found a more refined way to store energy using abandoned underground mines.

Can sand be used to store energy?

While there are many effective solutions for daily energy storage, the most common being batteries, a cost-effective long-term solution is still lacking. In a new IIASA-led study, an international team of researchers developed a novel way to store energy by transporting sand into abandoned underground mines.

Can sand be used to store energy in abandoned mines?

Abandoned mine entrance in Oregon. (Reference image Thomas Shahan, Flickr.) An international team of researchers has developed a novel way to store energy by transporting sand into abandoned underground mines.

How long does energy storage last?

Other energy storage methods, like batteries, lose energy via self-discharge over long periods. The energy storage medium of UGES is sand, meaning that there is no energy lost to self-discharge, enabling ultra-long time energy storage ranging from weeks to several years.

What is underground gravity energy storage?

A novel technique called Underground Gravity Energy Storage turns decommissioned mines into long-term energy storage solutions, thereby supporting the sustainable energy transition. Renewable energy sources are central to the energy transition toward a more sustainable future.

How can we save energy from wind turbines and solar panels?

As a result, we need to find ways of storing excess power when wind turbines are spinning fast, and solar panels are getting plenty of rays. Batteries would seem to be the obvious solution, but there are several obstacles to be overcome first, including high prices and a lack of standardization around technical requirements, as Deloitte points out.