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Oak Ridge Today
By the People, for the People
Abandoned Coal Mines Turned Into Energy Storage
Oak Ridge National Lab develops models to assess converting mines to underground pumped storage hydropower.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have performed advanced hydrodynamic modeling and developed chemical models to assess the feasibility of converting abandoned coal mines into underground pumped storage hydropower (PSH) facilities that could provide energy storage to increase grid reliability and security.
Why it matters
PSH provides over 90% of domestic, utility-scale energy storage, but typically requires specific geographic features like hills and mountains. By leveraging existing mine infrastructure, underground PSH could expand the reach of traditional PSH while reducing construction costs.
The details
The modeling tools developed by ORNL will help industry partners evaluate risks like chemical erosion and structural stability, and make informed decisions about facility design, construction and operations at specific mine locations.
- The research was conducted in 2026.
The players
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Thien Nguyen
A senior researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
What they’re saying
“Underground PSH is an exciting opportunity, but we have to overcome challenges like chemical erosion and structural stability. Our modeling tools will help industry partners evaluate these risks and make informed decisions about facility design, construction and operations at specific locations of interest.”
— Thien Nguyen, Senior Researcher (Mirage News)
The takeaway
Repurposing abandoned coal mines for underground pumped storage hydropower could expand the geographic reach and reduce the costs of this important energy storage technology, helping to improve grid reliability and security.
