Interactions between groundwater and the cavity of an old slate mine used as lower reservoir of an UPSH (Underground Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity): A modelling approach

Abstract In the actual evolving energy context, characterized by an increasing part of intermittent renewable sources, the development of energy storage technologies are required, such as pumped storage hydroelectricity (PSH). While new sites for conventional PSH plants are getting scarce, it is proposed to use abandoned underground mines as lower reservoirs for Underground Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity (UPSH). However, the hydrogeological consequences produced by the cyclic solicitations (continuous pumpings and injections) have been poorly investigated. Therefore, in this work, groundwater interactions with the cyclically fill and empty cavity were numerically studied considering a simplified description of a slate mine. Two pumping/injection scenarios were considered, both for a reference slate rock case and for a sensitivity analysis of variations of aquifer hydraulic conductivity value. Groundwater impacts were assessed in terms of oscillations of piezometric heads and mean drawdown around the cavity. The value of the hydraulic conductivity clearly influences the magnitude of the aquifer response. Studying interactions with the cavity highlighted that seepage into the cavity occurs over time. The volume of seeped water varies depending on the hydraulic conductivity and it could become non-negligible in the UPSH operations. These preliminary results allow finally considering first geological feasibility aspects, which could vary conversely according to the hydraulic conductivity value and to the considered groundwater impacts.