Three Houston startups are using a novel technique similar to fracking to create underground reservoirs of renewable energy, potentially reducing reliance on lithium batteries.
Dylan Baddour reports for Inside Climate News.
in short:
Sage Geosystems is developing South Texas' first commercial geothermal energy storage system that uses pressurized water in underground caverns. The technology involves injecting water underground and releasing it during peak demand periods to generate electricity and provide up to 10 hours of energy storage. While still in its early stages, the system could be an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which currently dominate the energy storage market.
Important Quotes:
“There is a growing need for technology that can adjust generation levels to maintain grid stability. The technology Sage is developing has the potential to be a game-changer.”
— Yiyi Zhou, energy analyst, BloombergNEF
Why this is important:
As solar and wind power become more prevalent, storing renewable energy is crucial to maintaining grid stability, and this technology could diversify storage options and reduce reliance on scarce lithium resources.
Related: Energy storage surge could transform U.S. power landscape
