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2025 Vol.35, Issue 4

Technical Note

A Review of the Studies of Underground Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Utilizing Underground Spaces

지하공간을 활용한 지하 양수발전 연구 동향 및 분석

Wusung An1
,
Jeewon Lee2
,
Minju Kim2
,
Bohui Kim3
,
Sangki Kwon4*
안 우성1
,
이 지원2
,
김 민주2
,
김 보희3
,
권 상기4*
1M.S. Student, Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University
2Ph.D. Student, Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University
3Undergraduate Student, Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University
4Professor, Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Inha University
1인하대학교 에너지자원공학과 석사과정
2인하대학교 에너지자원공학과 박사과정
3인하대학교 에너지자원공학과 학사과정
4인하대학교 에너지자원공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2025. pp. 325-346
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Abstract

As the transition to carbon-free energy progresses, the need for long-duration Energy Storage System (ESS) is increasing. Underground Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (UPHES) is one type of long-duration energy storage system that utilizes an underground reservoir. It offers several advantages, including minimizing environmental impact, increasing installed capacity by utilizing old Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) reservoirs, and utilizing unused underground spaces such as mines. Considering the current situation in Korea, where there are mines with vertical shafts and PHES with a service life of 30 years or more, UPHES is expected to meet the demand for long-term ESS in Korea. Therefore, we investigated the research trends of UPHES through literature review and performed quantitative bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. In particular, we collected numerical modeling studies necessary for the realization of underground pumped storage power generation and analyzed the modeling targets and software used. The analysis revealed that UPHES research utilizing coal mines was predominant, with the primary modeling targets being rock stability, fluid flow of water and air, and interactions between reservoirs and aquifers. It is anticipated that this study on UPHES research trends will serve as a catalyst for domestic research in the field.

Keywords
Underground pumped hydro energy storage (UPHES)
Underground reservoir
Long-duration energy storage system (Long-duration ESS)
Bibliometric information analysis
Underground space utilizing

에너지의 무탄소화에 따라 장주기 에너지저장장치(ESS)의 필요성이 증가하고 있다. 장주기 에너지저장장치 중 하나인 지하 양수발전(UPHES)은 양수발전(PHES)의 하부 저수지를 지하화하는 기술로, 환경 경관 훼손의 최소화가 가능하다는 점, 광산 등 유휴 지하공간을 활용하거나 노후 PHES의 상부 저수지를 공유할 수 있다는 점에서 장점을 가진다. 수갱을 가진 광산과 연식 30년 이상의 노후 PHES를 보유한 국내 현황을 고려할 때, UPHES는 국내 장주기 ESS 수요에 부응할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 따라서, UPHES의 연구 동향을 문헌조사를 통해 조사하고 VOSviewer를 이용한 계량서지분석을 수행하였다. 특히, 지하 양수발전의 실현을 위해 필요한 수치해석 모델링 연구들을 수집해 모델링 대상과 사용된 소프트웨어를 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 탄광을 활용한 UPHES 연구가 주로 진행되었으며, 주요 모델링 대상은 암반 안정성, 물과 공기의 유동, 저수지와 대수층 간 상호작용임을 알 수 있었다. 본 논문을 통한 UPHES의 연구동향 조사로 UPHES의 국내 연구를 촉발하는 계기가 될 것으로 기대한다.

키워드
지하 양수발전
지하 저수지
장주기 에너지 저장
계량서지분석
지하공간 활용
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국암반공학회
  • Journal Title :Tunnel and Underground Space
  • Journal Title(Ko) :터널과 지하공간
  • Volume : 35
  • No :4
  • Pages :325-346
  • Received Date : 2025-06-26
  • Revised Date : 2025-07-21
  • Accepted Date : 2025-07-23
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7474/TUS.2025.35.4.325
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