The storage of energy secures our future of energy
We have been experts in the underground storage of hydrocarbons for over 30 years. We use this long-standing expertise to further develop underground storage technologies and drive forward the energy transition.
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES)
With the growing use of geothermal potential as part of district heating projects for private or commercial neighbourhood solutions, and to optimise the operation of combined heat and power plants, Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage is increasingly being considered.
In addition to the sole storage of generated waste heat, combined heat and cold storage systems can also be planned, particularly in modern neighbourhood solutions. Such combination storage systems are installed at different depths, depending on the requirements of the respective cooling or heating demand, or the existence of suitable geological layers or their geothermal characteristics.
In addition to the thermal parameters of the target horizons, their hydraulic parameters are also important for the planning of heat/cold storage tanks. In such a system, the performance, arrangement and equipment of the boreholes/wells required for the storage process must also be integrated into the overall concept.
Our services
- Hydrogeological analyses as part of site selection and feasibility studies
- Evaluation of suitability of existing salt caverns for compressed air storage
- Planning of appropriate wells
- Thermohydraulic simulation of heat and cold storage process
Your contact
Andreas Bannach
Head of Team Geo-Support
Hydrogen creates new possibilities
A stable energy supply is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for the energy transition. In addition to environmental aspects, the energy transition also has political and economic objectives. As Germany is highly dependent on energy imports, especially gas, the expansion of alternative technologies is necessary. Hydrogen is becoming increasingly important as an energy source for the future energy supply. On the one hand, the production and use of green hydrogen contributes to decarbonisation. On the other hand, the use of hydrogen offers opportunities to compensate for fluctuations in electricity generation and thus ensure grid stability.
Hydrogen storage - important for the future
We are focusing on the continuous development of the hydrogen market, which will also require a significant expansion of hydrogen storage capacities in the coming years. As experts in the underground storage of various storage fluids, we are able to support our customers in challenging projects for the preparation and realisation of hydrogen storage facilities in the geological underground.
The addition of hydrogen to the natural gas grid and thus the compatibility of increasing proportions of hydrogen for underground natural gas storage facilities is also becoming increasingly important for the storage industry. ESK addresses the associated technical issues and is involved in clarifying them in relevant committees and as part of several research projects.
Among other things, we draw on expertise from a number of research projects and have carried out numerous feasibility studies on the conversion or new construction of salt caverns at various levels of detail (e. g. as part of the project Carbon2Chem).
Pilot project "HyPSTER" for the storage of hydrogen at Étrez storage site, France
3D representation of planned hydrogen caverns in the geological subsurface
Inauguration ceremony of the first demonstration plant for the storage of renewable hydrogen in salt caverns on September 15, 2023, at the Etrez site in France, with all cooperation partners (Project "Hypster")
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Our services
- Participation in research and development projects
- Development of scenarios and assessment of demand for hydrogen storage
- Feasibility studies
- Authorisation planning
Your contact
Dr. Maurice Schlichtenmayer
Senior Project Engineer
Storage of hydrocarbons is a basic requirement
Large-scale subsurface storage of hydrocarbons has been an important part of European energy supply systems for decades. These storage facilities help to balance out fluctuating energy consumption structures on industrial scale. They therefore make a major contribution to securing the energy supply.
The efficiency of existing storage systems is most impressively demonstrated in the natural gas sector. The storage of up to approximately 25 % of the annual natural gas consumption in Germany has been able to fully secure the seasonally varying consumption structure in recent decades. However, the existing storage capacity for liquid hydrocarbons (crude oil, diesel and petrol, etc.) of >20 million tonnes in Germany alone also makes a significant contribution to securing the supply of energy and raw materials.
To ensure the long-term safe operation of such complex storage facilities, it is necessary to engage interdisciplinary teams of engineers and geoscientists with the relevant expertise and experience in the early planning phases.
Our services
- Preparation of conceptual studies and feasibility studies including decommissioning of future facilities
- Design planning for all trades of subsurface facilities (e.g. drilling, well completion etc.)
- Planning and evaluation of necessary test works
- Geological analyses of relevant rock formations (designated storage formations, rock salt deposits)
- Thermodynamical and geomechanical assessment
- 3D reservoir simulations (reservoir and aquifer storages) and leaching simulations (cavern storages)
- Planning and realisation of first gas fill
- Monitoring and support for daily storage operation
- Preparation of blowout contingency plans
Your contact
Andreas Bannach
Head of Team Geo-Support
Compressed Air Energy Storage CAES
A compressed air storage power plant can store large quantities of surplus electrical energy in one or more underground salt caverns within a short time and return it to the electricity market when required. Basically, there are adiabatic and diabatic compressed air storage systems. With adiabatic compressed air storage significantly higher overall efficiency levels can be achieved by integrating a heat accumulator.
Due to high performance requirements and associated large volumes of air to be injected and withdrawn, underground salt caverns are the most suitable storage space for large-scale compressed air storage power plants. In this context, there are also increased requirements for dimensions of the borehole and associated technical drilling challenges compared to conventional hydrocarbon storage.
Another significant difference to hydrocarbon storage is the high oxygen partial pressure acting in the compressed air storage process, which must be taken into account when selecting materials for certain equipment.
Our services
- Geological surveys and geotechnical investigations as part of site selections and feasibility studies
- Feasibility assessment of existing caverns
- Well planning for large boreholes
- Well completion design with specific consideration of appropriate material
- Thermodynamical and geomechanical assessment as part of the overall process planning
Your contact
Dr. Maurice Schlichtenmayer
Senior Project Engineer