Technology
What is Zero Terrain?
Geotechnical Pumped-Hydro Storage
Zero Terrain is a geotechnical pumped hydro storage solution that allows to store energy like never before.
Pumped-hydro energy storage plants are the most mature and favourable large-scale storage technology, which helps balancing the power system and enables to switch from fossil-based economy to renewable-based economy. The challenge however is the need of mountains which significantly limits suitable locations.
Zero Terrain pumped-hydro storage technology can be used in regions which traditionally lack environmental prerequisites for hydro power projects, e.g. mountains or big rivers. The technological novelty of Zero Terrain Storage Solution is the placement of the lower reservoirs of the pumped storage plants in the Earth’s crust with favourable geology and using the surface water bodies as the upper reservoirs of the plants.
By placing the lower reservoirs in a suitable location on the Earth’s crust, additional income from sales of excavated rock is obtained. In case of the Estonian Pumped-Hydro Energy Storage project, the business plan involves production and sales of 15 million tonnes of chrystalline aggregates, which is to replace an imported high-cost igneous aggregates and low-quality domestic limestone aggregates, where appropriate.
Pumped-hydro energy storage plants are the most mature and favourable large-scale storage technology, which helps balancing the power system and enables to switch from fossil-based economy to renewable-based economy. The challenge however is the need of mountains which significantly limits suitable locations.
Zero Terrain pumped-hydro storage technology can be used in regions which traditionally lack environmental prerequisites for hydro power projects, e.g. mountains or big rivers. The technological novelty of Zero Terrain Storage Solution is the placement of the lower reservoirs of the pumped storage plants in the Earth’s crust with favourable geology and using the surface water bodies as the upper reservoirs of the plants.
By placing the lower reservoirs in a suitable location on the Earth’s crust, additional income from sales of excavated rock is obtained. In case of the Estonian Pumped-Hydro Energy Storage project, the business plan involves production and sales of 15 million tonnes of chrystalline aggregates, which is to replace an imported high-cost igneous aggregates and low-quality domestic limestone aggregates, where appropriate.
Affordable, clean, and secure energy
With Zero Terrain, a unique energy storage solution, we are addressing these challenges and creating an energy revolution by offering a storage solution with the smallest environmental footprint that guarantees affordable energy prices for consumers and increases security of supply.
WHAT IS PUMPED STORAGE?
Pumped storage is effectively a big battery
It is charged when there is surplus or low cost electricity, and discharged when that electricity is needed.
Pumped storage can also provide a wide range of electricity system benefits.
SCHEMES COMPRISE:
- Upper storage reservoir
- Lower storage reservoir
- Waterways: tunnels or pipelines connecting reservoirs
- Powerhouse with pump-turbine units
- Switchyard and transmission
What are the advantages of the Zero Terrain solution?
Classical hydroelectric energy storages can only be built in the mountains, whereas the Zero Terrain solution allows hydroelectric energy storages to be built in flat terrain as well.
- It uses earth beams as the building structure, reducing the use of building materials and the impact on land use.
- As a result of the low use of critical materials, both the supply risk and the impact of material inflation are lower. This reduces the dependence of advanced economies on authoritarian regimes.
- The modular design allows for higher storage capacity at a lower cost than any existing alternative.
- Hydroelectric energy storage is the most affordable type of energy storage that is highly efficient, has a long lifespan, and keeps energy prices low.
