Subsea buoyancy gravity energy storage

Abstract

The increasing development of floating wind turbines has paved the way for exploiting offshore wind resources at locations with greater depth and energy potential. The study presents a novel Subsea Buoyancy Gravity Energy Storage System (SBGESS) that combines buoyancy energy storage and gravity energy storage technologies to overcome the intermittent nature of wind energy. The proposed system is assessed for time-shifting power delivery applications in two Brazilian offshore wind farm sites with varying wind conditions and water depths. The performance of the SBGESS is evaluated by considering different numbers of units, water depths, and control strategies. The results demonstrate that the SBGESS can effectively enhance offshore wind farms’ capacity factor and power output during peak times, particularly in regions with lower wind potential and higher profundity.