Sage Geosystems Inc., a geothermal baseload and energy storage firm primarily based in Houston, has launched outcomes and information from its full-scale business pilot confirming the efficiency of its energy storage system that may present short- or long-duration storage (EarthStore). Results present the expertise is cost-competitive with lithium-ion batteries, pumped storage hydropower and pure fuel peaker crops.
Short- and Long-Duration Storage: The discipline outcomes from 2022-2023 and in depth information evaluation carried out in 2023 confirmed Sage can present 18 hours or extra of storage capability to successfully generate baseload energy 24/7 when paired with solar or wind technology. The discipline outcomes additionally demonstrated that Sage can alternatively present high-powered, short-duration power (load-following) throughout peak demand. Both storage intervals, long- and short-duration, improve grid reliability with secure power output. In addition, the warmth from the formation expands the fluid downhole and improves spherical journey effectivity (RTE).
The Sage information units had been obtained by pumping in and flowing again water from their effectively to gauge capability and power period. No induced seismicity was measured both throughout fracturing or subsequent pumping operations.
Sage’s energy storage design is able to scale and isn’t geographically restricted. In addition, it may be utilized in newly drilled wells and in current oil and fuel wells. The flexibility of the storage for each short- and long-durations can present optimally timed flows to maneuver energy from a time of day (or week or longer) the place the demand is low to a different time when the demand is excessive.
Cost-Competitive LCOS (Levelized Cost of Storage): Of much more significance, the outcomes confirmed, primarily based on LCOS, that Sage’s energy storage can present power at a price that’s decrease than lithium-ion battery storage and conventional pumped storage hydro. It is also aggressive with pure fuel peaker crops, offering a cleaner possibility for offering ancillary companies, black begin companies and/or redistributing curtailed energy throughout peak demand durations.
Summary of Commercial Pilot Results
EarthStore is Sage’s mechanical energy storage expertise that harvests the stress energy of the fluid and can also be enhanced by the warmth from the formation.
- Produced 200 kW for over 18 hours (long-duration) and 1 MW for half-hour (load-following), restricted solely by the small diameter rental floor tools piping.
- Generated electrical energy with Pelton generators to power tools on location.
- Measured subsurface system efficiencies between 88%-94%, with an estimated round-trip effectivity (RTE) of 70%-75%.
- The warmth from the formation expands the downhole fluid and improves RTE.
- Measured fluid losses < 2%, lowering to 1% by the tip of the 5-week interval.
- Demonstrated the power in a single effectively to generate 2-3 MW web output.
- Calculated LCOS that’s cost-competitive to pumped storage hydropower and lithium-ion batteries.
“We have cracked the code to provide the perfect complement to renewable energy, yielding reliable alternative baseload,” says Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geosystems. “The opportunities for our energy storage to provide power are significant – from remote mining operations to data centers to solving energy poverty in remote locations. We can interconnect with power grids or develop island/microgrids with a cleaner energy solution that is proven and ready to scale.”
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
