Development of specially designed salt caverns, 2022
We are developing specially designed salt caverns specifically to store renewable energy in the form of compressed air energy storage (CAES). Together with our partner, Corre Energy, we are currently planning the development of two CAES caverns in the area of Zuidwending in the Netherlands.
The compressed air will be produced from surplus electricity from wind and solar parks. When needed, the stored compressed air will be transformed back to green electricity that will be supplied to the electricity grid. Via the CAES caverns, renewable electricity will be supplied to households and industry in the north of the Netherlands – even when there is no sun or wind.
Energy storage caverns are usually smaller than regular salt caverns. The brine produced during their development will, however, be transported via pipelines to our salt plant in Delfzijl, where we produce high purity salt for the chemical industry. In this way the development serves a dual purpose: salt production and renewable energy storage. The CAES technology and the capacity of the caverns can supply electricity comparable to the energy consumption of 150,000 households.
Nobian’s role is to safely develop the caverns for the energy storage and thereby facilitate Corre Energy’s activities in the renewable energy market. Corre Energy has signed an off-take agreement with a large energy company highly invested in renewable energy, leading the energy transition.