NAPUŠTENI RUDNICI KAO GRAVITACIJSKE BATERIJE - SKLADIŠTA VIŠKA OBNOVLJIVE ENERGIJE / ABANDONED MINES AS GRAVITY BATTERIES – STORAGE SURPLUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Abstract

As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, the focus is on transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The energy transitions taking place around the world are primarily driven by the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. These variable renewable energy sources require energy storage capabilities to reliably meet energy demand over different time periods.According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, 90 percent of the world's electricity should come from renewable energy sources by 2050. Now sources like solar and wind are inconsistent so finding innovative ways to store energy in an affordable and efficient way is crucial. There are effective solutions for everyday energy storage, such as batteries, but a cost-effective long-term solution is lacking. In a new study led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, a team of researchers developed a new way to store energy by transporting sand into abandoned underground mines – gravity batteries. The new technique, called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES), proposes an efficient long-term energy storage solution using now-abandoned mines, which are abundant around the world. "The mines already have basic infrastructure and are connected to the electricity grid, which significantly reduces costs and facilitates the implementation of UGES plants."