WSP Global Inc announced the completion of drilling two cavern wells for the ACES I project in Utah. This project is part of the larger ACES Delta hydrogen hub, a collaborative effort between Magnum Development and Mitsubishi Power Americas.
The ACES Delta project aims to convert renewable energy into green hydrogen, which will be stored in salt caverns for seasonal use. During low-demand periods in the spring, excess energy will be stored, and during high-demand periods in the summer, the stored hydrogen will be utilized.
WSP was responsible for the design, drilling, and completion of the two cavern wells. The drilling operations and mechanical integrity tests have been successfully completed. Once the solution mining process is finished, these caverns will have the capacity to store approximately 300 GWh of clean energy in the form of hydrogen.
With the addition of these caverns, the US will have its fourth and fifth hydrogen-compatible storage facilities, further enhancing its capacity for renewable energy storage.
The ACES Delta project has received a significant boost with a loan guarantee of USD 504.4 million (EUR 471 million) from the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.
Scyller Borglum, the underground storage leader for WSP USA, highlighted the importance of hydrogen underground storage in decarbonizing US power generation. He emphasized that the underground salt dome caverns will serve as a substantial reservoir of renewable fuel, enabling utility-scale renewable energy storage at unprecedented levels.
The ACES Delta project represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, showcasing the potential for hydrogen storage to revolutionize the power generation sector and drive the transition toward a decarbonized future.
