Mine Storage

Mine Storage Solution

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DECARBONIZATION AND ELECTRIFICATION ARE DRIVING A MASSIVE CHANGE IN OUR ENERGY SYSTEM. Mine Storage provides a storage solution with a unique, modular design, and reliable functionality. Our design is a fast response, closed loop system in old mines. By using mines, we minimize the environmental impact, reduce construction costs, and utilize existing infrastructure such as grid connections. The availability of sites in the world is significant, as it is estimated that there are more than 1 million closed mines with no current purpose. We use modern modular technology from established providers adapted to meet the requirements of today’s markets. Our solution is always designed based on how revenue will be generated. Mine Storage is a suitable solution for both bulk storage and ancillary services. For each mine storage plant, the operational model is developed to optimise the revenue based upon the conditions of the local market.

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Electrification and decarbonisation requires us to exponentially increase our renewable electricity production over the coming decades.

Electricity grids are real-time-systems that constantly need to be fed with the same amount of electricity that we consume.

Today, only 3 % of all generated power is stored. To enable the energy transition the world needs grid-scale energy storage.

Using water and gravity to store energy is one of the most mature and widespread technologies for energy storage available today. In fact, more than 90 % of the current grid-supporting energy storage is based on water and gravity.

Using abandoned mines has several benefits on different levels. It enables hydropower energy storage facilities to be built in places without height differences in the landscape. It lowers the construction cost and the environmental impact given that existing infrastructure can be utilized.

A mine storage can vary in size from 15 to 200 MW and in discharge time from 2 to 12 hours, depending on the need in the area where it is located.

To put this in context, A 100 MW facility can provide a city of 250,000 households with energy for up to 12 hours. Each facility is tailored to the local market and requirements, ensuring that it serves its purpose and that it is financially sustainable.

To support a zero-carbon grid, we need to adjust for production gaps and smaller fluctuations in production and consumption. This is where solutions such as demand flexibility and short-term energy storage comes in.

A mine storage can be used both for grid-scale and short-term storage, thereby addressing both the production/consumption mismatch and the stability of the grid. In other words: mine storages can be the key that enables the transition to green energy.

GRID-SCALE

A mine storage has grid-scale energy storage capacity and can discharge energy for 2-12 hours. Sizes can vary between 15-200 MW // 30-2 400 MWh.

EFFICIENCY

A mine storage has a high round-trip efficiency of 75-85 % depending on size and configuration.

AN ENERGY SWISS ARMY KNIFE

A mine storage supports the energy system in several ways, often simultaneously. It can act as energy storage, grid frequency regulator, capacity reserve, transmission support, inertia provider, or as a behind-the-meter solution to support large energy producers or energy-intensive industries.

DURABILITY

A mine storage utilizes water and gravity with proven, durable equipment such as pumps, turbines and generators, enabling it to stay operational for 40-80 years with only smaller equipment refits.

SUSTAINABILITY

Turning an abandoned mine into a mine storage turns it from a liability into a circular asset.

LOW COST OF STORAGE

Given the compelling business case, the high round trip efficiency and the long lifespan of a mine storage, the levelized cost of energy storage (LCOS) is very competitive.

MANY AVAILABLE SITES

There are more than 1 million decommissioned mines in the world, fairly evenly spread out, meaning mine storages can be built to support the energy system in most regions. Generally, it is the regional demand for energy storage that limits the number of mine storages, not the availability of suitable mines.

LOW LOCAL IMPACT AND SAFETY BY DESIGN

A mine storage in operation is hardly noticeable for its neighbors. Most of the facility is underground, meaning it can’t be seen or heard. The best indicator of the existence of a mine storage is that the water level in the upper water reservoir varies slightly.

WE USE THE CLEANEST MEANS OF STORAGE – WATER

WE USE THE MOST BASIC LAW OF NATURE - GRAVITY

Mine Storage uses the same proven technology as traditional pumped storage, but applies it in an innovative way by using the height difference that you can find in decommissioned mines. It is the amount of water in the mine that governs the amount of energy that can be stored. When building a mine storage, the mine itself becomes a circular asset that supports cost effective abundant clean energy.

The mine site already has an industrial past and we can re-use infrastructure that is already in place. No dependence on rare-earth metals. No worried about recycling of batteries. Just water and gravity.