Overview/Objectives
Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) accounts for more than 90% of grid-scale energy storage in the United States. As the nation’s need for reliable and secure energy storage grows, the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is investigating the potential of repurposing abandoned coal mines for PSH. By leveraging existing mine infrastructure, this approach could provide a cost-effective and scalable means of strengthening grid stability and enhancing the effectiveness of domestic power production.
Approach
ORNL researchers are using computational models to assess the feasibility of underground coal mines for PSH applications. The researchers aim to accurately model key factors such as hydrodynamic behavior, chemical interactions, and their impacts on PSH system performance, alongside economic and site selection analyses.
Results and Future Directions
The team has successfully developed hydrodynamics and chemical models to analyze physical aspects of PSH using coal mines. These models evaluate water movement, chemical changes caused by native mine materials, and potential physical and chemical interactions with mine infrastructure and PSH equipment.
The researchers will supplement their work by conducting a techno-economic analysis to support financial viability assessments. They also plan to conduct system efficiency analyses to determine best practices in coal mine PSH facility construction.
Impact
Repurposing abandoned coal mines for PSH will expand the reliable, long-duration energy storage solution to new geographic regions while minimizing development costs and accelerating deployment. Integrating new energy storage technologies into the power grid at scale will enhance both reliability and resilience, ensuring stable energy access nationwide.
Partnerships
ORNL is working to address key technical challenges based on site-specific data provided by industry partners. This collaboration has helped to identify critical site-specific considerations, and may continue to provide insights to guide future. To request more information or to discuss future collaborations, please contact Thien Nguyen at nguyend@ornl.gov.
