Mine Water for the Generation and Storage of Renewable Energy: A Hybrid Hydro–Wind System
Héctor Álvarez,
Guillermo Domínguez,
Almudena Ordóñez,
Javier Menéndez,
Rodrigo Álvarez and
Jorge Loredo
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Héctor Álvarez: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
Guillermo Domínguez: SADIM Engineering, 33900 Ciano, Spain
Almudena Ordóñez: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
Javier Menéndez: SADIM Engineering, 33900 Ciano, Spain
Rodrigo Álvarez: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
Jorge Loredo: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-18
Abstract:
Mine water is normally considered as waste that has to be managed. However, new applications are increasingly being sought for the water that floods mining voids, especially in relation to its use as an energy resource. The worldwide energy market, within the current transition framework, is searching for creative approaches to produce and store clean energy. In particular, underground pumped hydroelectric energy storage systems (UPHS) constitute efficient and flexible alternatives to deal with intermittent renewable energy sources. In this work, a UPHS is designed using the mine water and the voids of a closed coal mine in Asturias (North-west Spain) as a lower reservoir. Moreover, this system is combined with a wind energy generation facility and the efficiency of the hybrid system is evaluated. With an investment cost of EUR 193 M, a 40 MW UPHES joined to a 60 MW wind farm would generate benefits of about EUR 54 M in 40 years. The reduction in CO 2 emissions (29,000 equivalent tons per year) and the social benefits in a traditional mining area are other intangible advantages of this system.
Keywords: mine water; underground mining reservoir; energy storage; underground pumped hydroelectric energy storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)
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