Coal Mine in Germany Transforms into Hydroelectric Battery
RAG AG, the owner of the Prosper-Haniel hard coal mine in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is set to convert this facility into a large-scale energy storage system that harnesses excess solar and wind energy. By 2018, the mine will be transformed into a 200-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric reservoir, capable of supplying power to over 400,000 homes.
To address the fluctuations in wind and solar energy, the system will utilize up to 1 million cubic meters of water that can descend as deep as 1,200 meters, activating turbines located at the base of the mine shafts. The mining complex features 26 kilometers of horizontal shafts, which will be repurposed for this innovative energy project.
Workers in the town of Bottrop, who have dedicated years to the mine, will retain their jobs while adapting to new responsibilities. Governor Hannelore Kraft emphasized their ongoing importance in ensuring a stable energy supply for the nation. During a recent press conference, she noted that other mines might adopt similar transformations, as the state aims to double the contribution of renewable energy to its power portfolio to 30% by 2025.
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