Giant battery to be installed underground as deep as Empire State Building is tall: ‘It’s a massive amount of storage’
Giant battery to be installed underground as deep as Empire State Building is tall: 'It's a massive amount of storage' The Cool Down
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A New Underground “Battery” for Clean Energy Storage
A small town in central Utah is set to be the home of a new underground “battery” that will store hydrogen as a clean energy source.
Creating Caverns for Hydrogen Storage
Developers are creating two caverns as deep as the Empire State Building is tall from a geological salt formation near Delta, Utah. These caverns, which are expected to be complete next year, will be able to store hydrogen gas.
Producing Hydrogen through Electrolysis
The hydrogen will be produced nearby through a process called electrolysis. This will be done using excess solar and wind power in spring and fall, when demand for energy is low. Then it can be stored until peak energy demand hits in the summer — at that time, it would be burned at a power plant as a blend of hydrogen and natural gas.
Environmental Impact and Benefits
The burning of hydrogen does not release planet-warming pollution, but it’s unclear just how eco-friendly the new plant will be. The amount of pollution produced will depend on the hydrogen/natural gas ratio used. Nonetheless, the new facility will help clean up the air for local residents as it replaces a coal plant. Exposure to pollution from the burning of coal contributes to respiratory illnesses, neurological and developmental damage, and lung disease.
Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals
Investments in clean energy sources, such as hydrogen produced with renewable energy, are crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and slowing down the overheating of our planet. Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas are the biggest contributors to global planet-warming pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.
Green Hydrogen as an Alternative Power Source
If burning coal or gas fuels it, hydrogen production can create pollution. However, the fuel becomes a clean storage resource, or “green hydrogen,” when solar or wind energy powers its production, as will happen in Utah.
Growing Interest in Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen as an alternative power source is gaining traction in the United States. For instance, a Texas factory is planning on producing green hydrogen that uses wind and sun as energy sources for the electrolysis process. It will be the largest facility of its kind in the U.S. Furthermore, the Biden administration recently announced $7 billion in funding for hydrogen projects across the country to jump-start production.
Challenges and Future Considerations
While the Utah project looks promising, it still has its challenges. Upgrading or rebuilding major facilities may be necessary to achieve 100% hydrogen production in the next 20 years. The costs and complications associated with infrastructure adjustments need to be carefully considered to ensure that the project remains beneficial to the climate.
Massive Storage Capacity
“It’s a massive amount of storage,” says Jigar Shah, head of the Department of Energy’s loan program office. The plant will complement other renewable energy projects in the West that together can produce surplus electricity in the spring and fall. This underground hydrogen storage facility provides a great solution for dealing with excess energy supply.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- Indicator: Proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
- Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
- Indicator: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities (population weighted)
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | Proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities (population weighted) |
Analysis
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The article discusses the use of hydrogen as a clean energy source. This aligns with SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The storage of hydrogen as a clean energy source contributes to the target of increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (Target 7.2).
Indicator: The proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources can be used to measure progress towards this target.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
The article highlights the importance of clean energy sources, such as hydrogen, in reducing planet-warming pollution. This relates to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The use of hydrogen as a clean storage resource aligns with Target 13.1, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
Indicators: The number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population can be used to measure progress towards this target. Additionally, the number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer can indicate progress towards Target 13.2.
-
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article mentions that the new facility will help clean up the air for local residents by replacing a coal plant. This relates to SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The reduction of adverse environmental impacts, such as air pollution, aligns with Target 11.6.
Indicator: The annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities (population weighted) can be used to measure progress towards this target.
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: thecooldown.com
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