Project management in the development phase for mine storage: a case study in MISO and comparison between the U.S. and Sweden

Abstract

Large additions of renewable energy internationally will require large installations of energy storage technologies to harness all the produced power and prevent the curtailment of those systems. A Swedish company, called Mine Storage, is working to convert old, out-of-commission mines into pumped underground hydro-storage systems (UPSH). As they are still a smaller company, their projects are mostly focused on Sweden and the Nordic Region. However, they have a partner in the U.S. that is an energy cooperative looking to develop this technology with them in the Midwest. This thesis is focused on comparing the EU and U.S. energy markets and infrastructure in order to better understand the different uses of energy storage for revenue and energy uses in future developments. The result of the research was the creation of a project development framework for the Midwest region in the U.S. to help streamline the implementation and approval process of a UPSH in the U.S. This includes the legal process of U.S. expansion and the necessary federal and local legislation and approvals for developing a project of this nature. The tool has been developed through Excel and the project analyzes Mine Storage’s current business development methods and potential improvements to their processes. The U.S. Permitting process is long and can be complex due to the large number of involved agencies to gain all forms of approval necessary. Lastly, recommendations to Mine Storage on their current development process and project management structure were provided along with tips to help facilitate the U.S.when the time comes.

Outgoing