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    CPS Energy planning to use Geomechanical Pumped Storage as part of Emissions strategy

    March 9, 2022
    The GPS technology pumps water underground and stores it between impermeable rock layers, which hold the water under pressure. When electricity has to be supplied from the project, the pressurized water will be released to power a hydroelectric turbine
    Image credit Quidnet Energy
    Quidnet Pumped Storage 622907da4c0a8

    CPS Energy and Quidnet Energy have signed a 15-year commercial agreement for an energy storage project, which will use Quidnet's Geomechanical Pumped Storage (GPS) technology for creating low-carbon and cost-effective power generation.

    The GPS technology pumps water underground and stores it between impermeable rock layers, which hold the water under pressure. When electricity has to be supplied from the project, the pressurized water will be released to power a hydroelectric turbine, thus generating emission-free electricity.

    The project will be executed in two phases, starting with a 1 MW, 10-year storage facility. The project may later be expanded to 15 MW.

    EPIcenter's Innovation Management program will support CPS Energy's decision-making process for the project. The move is in support of CPS Energy’s Flexible Path plan to cut emissions 80 percent by 2040.

    "The CPS Energy team is dedicated to serving our customers with reliable, safe, secure, and resilient service. New technologies like Quidnet's GPS energy storage can enhance reliability and enable us to expand our renewable power resources and explore new technologies as we build our path for the future," said CPS Energy Interim President & CEO Rudy Garza. "Incorporating Quidnet's homegrown-Texan energy storage solution allows us to create a cleaner electric supply while supporting our local energy industry workforce and lowering costs for our customers."

    CPS Energy is one of the top public power wind energy buyers in the US and the top solar generation firm in Texas. The firm also provides electric and natural gas infrastructure for Joint Base San Antonio.

    The firm intends to increase renewables by 127% by 2040 and decrease gas- and coal-fired generation by 72% and 61%, respectively.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.