Premier is part of the initiative launched by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to explore novel means of capturing excess energy production using geothermal reservoirs, with a focus on hybridizing solar power with geothermal reservoir thermal energy storage.
Through this partnership, Premier is working with federal scientists to develop the technology towards an initial 100-USD demonstration project set to debut no sooner than 2025. The demonstration project is sought to produce 10 MW of electrical power for five hours every night.
The company is planning to construct 60-acre solar arrays and a series of tanks for separating and cleaning the water. Energy will be stored in 37 geothermal wells. The system would then be connected to a nearby substation and power transmission lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
A unique characteristic of the project in Western Kern is that it aims to utilize the infrastructure of a depleted oil and gas reservoir. If the concept can be expanded across oil fields in California, the technology can help supply a substantial share of the power demand of the state during peak demand.
“We believe the oil fields could meet roughly half California’s 2045 long duration energy storage goals — with 45 gigawatts of potential on the west side (of Kern) alone,” stated Mike Umbro, Corporate Development Partner at Premier.
According to the company, it expects some difficulty in securing the permits for the project, especially those issued by the California Geologic Energy Management Division, the state’s primary oil regulatory agency. The project as proposed will require both aquifer exemptions and underground injection permits.
