Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure

Grid-Scale Subsurface Energy Storage

Illustration depicting compressed air energy storage (CAES) in porous media systems. Illustration by W. Denn.

Understand and develop effective and affordable grid-scale energy storage in the deep subsurface, such as porous media compressed air energy storage, thermal energy storage, or hydrogen storage. Carry out research on capacity assessment, design of systems, performance analysis, assessment of risks, and specialized analysis of site-specific issues.

Overview

Grid-Scale Subsurface Energy Storage is an Energy Geosciences Division initiative within the Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure Program Domain.

Featured Projects

News & Events

EESA Participates in Expert Briefing on Environmental Impact of Wildfires at State Capitol

April 4, 2019

Susan Hubbard, Associate Laboratory Director of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Berkeley Lab, moderated an expert briefing on the impact California wildfires were having on the environment at the state capitol in Sacramento today. The event is the latest in a series of briefings hosted by the California Council on Science & Technology…

GRC Names Graduate Student Awards After Marcelo Lippmann

March 26, 2019

The Geothermal Resources Council has renamed its graduate student awards to honor the late Marcelo Lippmann, whose tenure at EESA spanned several decades and helped establish Berkeley Lab as a global leader in geothermal research. The council is accepting applications for the five Marcelo Lippmann Graduate Student Scholarship Awards, each in the amount of…

Happy World Water Day: March 22, 2019

March 21, 2019

EESA research scientists are committed to identifying ways to adapt how water resources are used for energy production, irrigation, and other key societal needs in an energy-constrained and uncertain climate future. This World Water Day, an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater, is focused on tackling the water crisis by addressing…

EESA Experts Participate in First High-Resolution Field Measurements of Induced Seismicity and Fault Slip

March 13, 2019

Induced seismicity refers to typically minor earthquakes and tremors triggered by human activity, deliberate or not. Rarely are humans aware of these mostly low-magnitude events occurring deep underground. However, some regions have over the past decade shown quite significant earthquakes, such as a few larger than magnitude 5 events in Oklahoma, which have been linked to wastewater injection…

Susan Hubbard Honored by Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame

February 20, 2019

Susan Hubbard, Associate Laboratory Director for the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, will be inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame, at an annual awards ceremony on March 30. Hubbard is being honored for her scientific contributions to key environmental challenges of our time, including the use of geophysical methods to quantify…

Geothermal energy pioneer Paul Witherspoon would have been 100 this month

February 8, 2019

Paul Witherspoon is considered the “father” of the Earth Sciences Division here at Berkeley Lab. On Saturday, February 9, 2019, Witherspoon would have been 100 years old. He is widely remembered for having raised awareness of the potential for hydrogeological research to help address energy and environmental challenges that were beginning to emerge in…