Etha Oy and Sustainable Energy Solutions Sweden Holding AB (SENS) have entered into an agreement under which Etha will provide project development services and technical consultancy for an Underground Pumped Hydro Storage (UPHS) project being developed at the decommissioned Pyhäsalmi mine in Pyhäjärvi, Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland.
The potential of the Pyhäsalmi mine for an underground pumped hydro storage has also been explored previously, with earlier initiatives aimed at developing the concept. Etha has now been engaged to support SENS in advancing the project through its next stages of development. Developing an energy storage project in a decommissioned mine is a challenging undertaking involving several technical, commercial, permitting and contractual considerations. The aim of the project is to explore how the infrastructure and unique characteristics of one of Europe’s deepest mines could be utilized for large-scale energy storage and given a new role in the Finnish energy system. The project’s further development and implementation remain subject to the necessary agreements, permits and approvals, including agreements concerning the use of the mine and its infrastructure.
In an underground pumped hydro storage, water is first moved to a higher elevation, storing the energy in the form of gravitational potential energy. When electricity is needed, the water is released to a lower level through turbines, converting the stored energy back to electricity. The Pyhäsalmi project seeks to combine large-scale energy storage with the potential reuse of existing mining infrastructure.
Energy storages have an increasingly important role in balancing Finland’s electricity system. As the share of weather-dependent electricity generation grows, energy storage solutions can help bridge the gap between electricity production and consumption, contributing to the flexibility and reliability of the electricity system.
Etha will operate in the Pyhäsalmi UPHS project as Project Development Consultant, supporting the planning, coordination and overall development of the project. Etha’s work covers a broad range of project development and technical consulting activities, including technical planning and engineering support, coordination with suppliers and authorities, and support related to the permits and approvals required to advance the project.
The Pyhäsalmi UPHS project has been awarded a conditional investment grant by the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. For Etha, the assignment brings together expertise in sustainable energy project development, engineering and permitting in a project that stands apart from conventional energy development projects. We at Etha are excited to be involved in this unique project.
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Additional information:
Sonja Telkki, Project Manager
sonja.telkki@etha-consultancy.com