Researchers Investigate Pumped Storage in Retired Underground Mines

Three professors from Michigan Technological University and Texas A&M University are investigating a method to store power generated by alternative power sources by making use of unused and abandoned underground mining sites in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 

If proven successful, the project could deliver a blueprint for providing continuous power from intermittent and zero-emission sources.

To meet the increasing demand for electricity across the globe, two relatively new sources of energy have dominated construction activity in many areas — wind turbines and solar arrays. The advantage of these generation sources is that, once installed, they have no fuel costs or emissions and contribute minimally to global warming trends.

One major impediment to wind and solar energy is that they are intermittent; that is, they only generate electricity part of the time (roughly 25% to 33%), as there are periods when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine. That poses major challenges to the electric grid, which requires instantaneous, balanced power to keep supply and demand consistent.

Realizing the opportunity and potential, researchers Tim Scarlett and Roman Sidortsov of Michigan Tech and Joseph Dancy, a Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) board member and professor in the Texas A&M College of Law, have decided to investigate different methods to store power generated by alternative means. “Storage can offer relatively environmentally friendly support to the existing electric grid,” said Sidortsov. “This is one step in the right direction, accelerating change toward a low-carbon future.”

The three professors work with a larger team, supported by the Sloan Foundation, and are currently looking at using the historic copper and iron mines in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are  investigating pumped storage — saving excess renewable power generated during sunny or windy days for use during periods of high demand — using old mine shafts. This is achieved by pumping the underground water up to the surface during periods of conventional excess power generation, then allowing the water to drain back into the shaft to generate power during periods of demand. This process would be a closed-loop system to reduce environmental impacts. “Pumped storage is a simple and proven method for managing intermittent power generation from renewable sources,” said Dancy.

Scarlett also noted that the former mining communities have vibrant cultural heritage. In addition to investigating the feasibility of pumped storage, the researchers realized the importance of protecting the cultural history of each area. “If we are successful, we might not only provide high-demand power from green power sources, but establish a design process that builds on community history and identity,” said Scarlett.

Dancy extended the trio’s research by looking at the applicability of pumped storage to solar facilities being constructed in West Texas, another historical mining area that is in the midst of a major renewable power construction boom. Texas has its own power grid, with rules that are somewhat different from those in Northern Michigan.

Dancy presented his Texas findings to the North Texas Renewable Energy Group earlier this month.

Last summer, Dancy and Dan Jamison, CEO of MTEC SmartZone, visited the L’Anse Warden power plant, a biomass generating facility on the shores of Lake Superior, as they investigated opportunities for businesses in the energy sector in the surrounding area. Several local manufacturers are also attempting to address niches in the power sector.

Currently, the team is looking to secure funding so student researchers can begin initial work this summer.

MTEC's mission is to facilitate the creation and ongoing success of high-tech value propositions in conjunction with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2003, the MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support and other services to local companies that have led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton and Hancock area. 

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies, and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state. MEDC’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation initiative establishes Michigan as the place to create and grow a business by providing high-tech startup companies with access to a variety of critical resources, such as funding and expert counsel, from ideation to maturation. For more on MEDC Entrepreneurship & Innovation, visit michiganbusiness.org/entrepreneurship

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.