General – Storage System
Norwegian researchers have demonstrated an ingenious underwater energy storage system that uses the immense pressure of the deep sea to deliver electricity on demand.
This novel approach offers a sustainable alternative to conventional batteries for coastal and island grids.
Installed off Bergen, the system consists of vast hollow spheres anchored 400 metres below the surface. When surplus wind power is available, electricity pumps water out of the spheres against the ocean’s pressure.
When energy is required, water flows back in, turning turbines to generate power, much like a hydroelectric dam inverted and placed on the seabed.
The pilot achieved approximately 80% efficiency over a six-month period of operation. High water pressure allows significant energy to be stored in a relatively compact space, making it ideal for offshore wind farms or regions with unstable grids.
Constructed from concrete and steel, the system does not degrade, carries no risk of fire or chemical pollution, and remains entirely out of sight, which is valuable in sensitive marine environments.
By transforming the crushing force of the ocean into a silent and emission-free energy reserve, Norway has revealed a hidden battery beneath the waves.
