Use of Mines for Underground Energy Storage

摘要

Mined underground space can offer opportunities for development of energy storage systems to help meet electricity supply challenges in the 21st century. Leading types of energy storage that can benefit from mined space are underground hydroelectric pumped storage, compressed air energy storage, and storage of natural gas. Thermal energy storage can also take advantage of underground locations. Because of the high cost of underground construction, potential secondary use of existing mined space, or planned use of future mined areas, should not be overlooked. Options for conjunctive use of areas planned for mineral extraction have been explored so that vital opportunities are not lost. Examples of proposed and existing projects are given, including pumped hydro projects with installed capacities in the range of 1000 to 1500 MW and compressed air projects ranging from < 50 to 2700 MW. Recent assignments have focused on evaluation of site characteristics that most influence technical feasibility, investment, and risk. The latest analytical methods and tools have been successfully used to evaluate stability, permeability, general mine attributes, and present/future worth of underground space.