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Title: Integrating CO₂ storage with geothermal resources for dispatchable renewable electricity

Journal Article · · Energy Procedia (Online)
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
  3. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); Department of Earth Sciences, Zurich (Switzerland). Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group.
  4. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
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We present an approach that uses the huge fluid and thermal storage capacity of the subsurface, together with geologic CO₂ storage, to harvest, store, and dispatch energy from subsurface (geothermal) and surface (solar, nuclear, fossil) thermal resources, as well as energy from electrical grids. Captured CO₂ is injected into saline aquifers to store pressure, generate artesian flow of brine, and provide an additional working fluid for efficient heat extraction and power conversion. Concentric rings of injection and production wells are used to create a hydraulic divide to store pressure, CO₂, and thermal energy. Such storage can take excess power from the grid and excess/waste thermal energy, and dispatch that energy when it is demanded, enabling increased penetration of variable renewables. Stored CO₂ functions as a cushion gas to provide enormous pressure-storage capacity and displaces large quantities of brine, which can be desalinated and/or treated for a variety of beneficial uses.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1201669
Journal Information:
Energy Procedia (Online), Vol. 63, Issue C; ISSN 1876-6102
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Supercritical CO2: Properties and Technological Applications - A Review journal May 2019
Geological storage of captured carbon dioxide as a large-scale carbon mitigation option: GEOLOGICAL STORAGE FOR CARBON MITIGATION journal May 2017

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Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
geothermal energy
bulk energy storage
thermal energy storage
parasitic load
geologic CO₂ storage
CO₂ utilization
brine utilization