UNDERGROUND ENERGY
The UNDERGY project investigates the technological bases to improve the competitiveness of stationary storage of renewable energy in Spain using green hydrogen.
The commitments acquired by Spain in energy matters entail a wide deployment of renewable generation with clearly defined objectives in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) for 2030 and a 100% renewable horizon in 2050. The current energy context considers the need to have a large-scale storage system to manage electricity surpluses from renewable sources, and provide supply security to the energy system. By simply having sufficient storage capacity, we will be able to manage the seasonal fluctuations in renewable energy.
UNDERGY proposes to harness renewable energy by integrating renewable generation and high-capacity seasonal energy storage (of the order of TWh) into a smart grid based on two levers:
The project promotes the harness of the current national networks of gas and electricity infrastructures towards the necessary transformation into a 100% renewable distribution network. The penetration of hydrogen as a renewable energy vector and its storage in the underground are still at an early stage, giving the project a strong innovative character.
UNDERGY is being undertaken by a consortium led by Petroleum Oil & Gas España (Naturgy subsidiary) along with another five companies: Gas Natural Comercializadora (Naturgy Group), Ayterra, Gessal, H2B2 and Técnicas Reunidas.
Furthermore, six benchmark research organizations are also involved: National Center of H2, Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, Polytechnic University of Madrid, University of Salamanca, Loyola University and Tecnalia.
The overall budget of the UNDERGY project amounts to € 5,599,227.00.
The project will receive a grant of € 3,490,674.75 provided by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), within the framework of the 2021 call of the SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MISSIONS Program (Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan), and has the support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The grant is funded by the European Union through the Next Generation EU Fund. The expected duration of the project is 39 months.
