Results of the HESS project – Hybrid Energy Storage System in post-mining infrastructure

Abstract

The project`s aim was to develop a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) consisting of three different energy storage systems: Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity (PSH), Compressed Gas – Air/CO2 Energy Storage (CAES) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) using a post-mining infrastructure. The possibility of using geothermal energy and the use and potential storage of CO2 were also included in the research. The assumed total energy storage capacity in the HESS project was in the range of 30 MWh. On the basis of the energy demand of each HESS component, a method of thermal and mechanical integration of the entire system was investigated and developed, together with an algorithm for the mutual interaction between the elements of the energy storage system. The optimal cooperation of the various elements of the HESS was decided to be supervised by an energy router. The router also manages energy exchanges with the national power grid for the intake of low-cost green energy and peak energy production. The single HESS energy router system should take into account the possibility of the cooperation of multiple HESS systems working in a distributed system.