European researchers advance energy storage and CO2 conversion technologies

Researchers are advancing two distinct technological approaches to support the energy transition and decarbonization. In Portugal, investigators from the University of Évora have proposed using deep geological formations for compressed air energy storage. By injecting high-pressure air into sandstone and limestone deposits between 800 and 3,000 meters underground, the system could potentially store up to 1 terawatt-hour of electricity. This method aims to stabilize renewable energy grids by mitigating the volatility of wind and solar power without relying on scarce materials like lithium or cobalt.

Simultaneously, a European consortium led by the Aragon Institute of Technology has launched the UNCOVER project. With a total budget of 8.6 million euros, including 7 million from Horizon Europe, the four-year initiative aims to transform captured industrial CO2 into useful products. The project will test six conversion technologies using real-world CO2 from industrial sites in Spain and Poland. Target outputs include biomethanol, construction materials, pigments, microbial proteins, and biodegradable plastics, with the goal of evaluating their economic viability and environmental impact compared to fossil-based alternatives.