Assessment of carbon dioxide transcritical cycles for electrothermal energy storage with geological storage in salt cavities

Abstract

Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies are envisaged as critical actors in the energy transition and climate change mitigation framework. Despite the recent advances in CCUS implementation, there is still significant scope for their growth and improvement. On the other hand, developing new large-scale energy storage systems is a key factor for the massive deployment of renewable energy systems. Technologies such as the electrothermal energy storage system based on carbon dioxide transcritical cycles incorporating geological storage (CEEGS) can contribute to both fields. Preliminary studies have shown that the integrated storage system can operate with roundtrip efficiencies exceeding 50%, injecting over 1 million tons of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) annually. It is an early-stage technology with open challenges for successful development, such as an adequate balance between the high- and low-temperature thermal storage reservoirs or the operation definition between the electrothermal system and the carbon dioxide injection and recovery. Underground pressures will oscillate with the charge/discharge process, with operational implications and constraints. Advancing in the concept requires the definition of optimised operation. This work presents a novel analysis of the adaptation of CO2 transcritical cycles to include injection and production processes with the specific scenario of salt cavities. It considers new modifications to adapt the transcritical cycles in closed-mode operation to the conditions required by the salt cavities injection and production processes. Different case studies are evaluated, evaluating the impact of injection and geological storage, production and surface storage, and reinjection into the geological formation. The analyses show roundtrip efficiencies within the range of 49.1–73.0% when the injection, production, and reinjection processes are executed.