Using salt caverns for seasonal energy storage is a significant opportunity to empower hydrogen as an energy carrier and greatly expand energy storage resources throughout the U.S. The massive natural geological salt formation is adjacent to the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) near Delta, Utah, with transmission interconnections to major demand centers throughout the west and significant renewable energy resource opportunities in the region.
The stored green hydrogen becomes an energy reserve that can be released to produce fuel for electric power generation at any time, enhancing grid reliability and efficiency through optimization of existing transmission line loads. It also creates the ability to move excess generation from highly productive generation months with little electric load to cover demand during high-load periods. It also reduces the need to overbuild renewables and new transmission assets.
When completed, ACES Delta I will provide 100 percent clean energy seasonal storage capabilities to support the increased build-out of renewable energy that is essential to a decarbonized future for the western U.S. power grid and to reducing America’s overall carbon footprint.