Study on Decarbonization Potential and Scale-up Path of Abandoned Coal Mine Compressed Air Energy Storage System

Abstract

This article studies the decarbonization potential and scaling pathways of abandoned coal mine compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems. By constructing a comprehensive quantitative model covering direct emission reduction, indirect emission reduction, and sequestration-based emission reduction, it systematically analyzes the triple synergistic decarbonization mechanisms of zero-carbon operation, grid peak-shaving, and geological sequestration. The study shows that using zero-carbon compression and waste heat recovery technologies can eliminate the gas supplementary combustion in traditional systems to achieve direct emission reduction, enhance the grid’s ability to absorb renewable energy for significant indirect emission reduction benefits, and utilize the renovated mine spaces for CO₂ geological sequestration to achieve negative emissions. Typical case analysis indicates that a 200 MW system has an annual decarbonization potential of about 130,000 tons of CO₂, with 86.2% contributed by indirect emission reduction, highlighting its core value in replacing high-carbon power sources. The study further proposes a scaling development path centered on technology standardization, regional clustering, and policy coordination, pointing out that by reducing costs and improving efficiency of key equipment, establishing mine area storage clusters and coordinated grid dispatch, and innovating carbon markets and green finance mechanisms, abandoned coal mine CAES systems can become a key technology to support the new power system and achieve carbon neutrality goals.