Mine Water for the Generation and Storage of Renewable Energy: A Hybrid Hydro–Wind System

Mine water is normally considered as waste that has to be managed. However, new applications are increasingly being sought for the floods mining voids, especially in relation its use an energy resource. The worldwide market, within current transition framework, searching creative approaches produce and store clean energy. In particular, underground pumped hydroelectric storage systems (UPHS) constitute efficient flexible alternatives deal with intermittent renewable sources. this work, a UPHS designed using mine voids of closed coal Asturias (North-west Spain) lower reservoir. Moreover, system combined wind generation facility efficiency hybrid evaluated. With investment cost EUR 193 M, 40 MW UPHES joined 60 farm would generate benefits about 54 M years. reduction CO2 emissions (29,000 equivalent tons per year) social traditional area other intangible advantages system.