Underground Energy Storage and Geoscience Policy: Underpinning the Energy Transition - Energy Group

Secure, affordable and low carbon energy depends on storing it at scale, and the subsurface is central to how that will be done. From hydrogen and compressed air to heat and gravity-based systems, geological energy storage is moving from concept to delivery. Whether it gets built at the pace needed will depend on geoscience, on the policy and regulatory frameworks around it, and on how well the two are connected.

Day 1: Subsurface Energy Storage

The first day covers the route from storage need to delivery in three sessions:

• The need case: subsurface storage’s role in the future energy system and how to quantify its benefits.
• Innovation: emerging storage technologies, characterisation, modelling and new uses of lined rock caverns, mine workings and disused wells.
• Delivery: the skills, materials, regulation and commercial frameworks needed to take projects from feasibility to operation.

We invite abstracts on these themes, including research, case studies and project lessons. Technical topics include site characterisation, capacity assessment, geomechanics, containment, long-term performance, modelling, monitoring and co-location. We also welcome contributions on supply chains and business models.

Day 2: Energy Policy and Geoscience

Day 2 examines how geoscientific evidence informs energy policy, regulation and planning. Topics include energy storage, hydrogen, geothermal systems, carbon capture and storage, floating offshore wind, critical minerals for renewable energy technologies and subsurface development.

Building on Day 1, geoscientists, policy professionals, regulators, industry and researchers will discuss the scientific, regulatory and strategic questions facing these technologies and resources, and how geoscientists can contribute more effectively to policy decisions supporting the energy transition and Net Zero.

We welcome contributions from academia, industry, government and regulators, including live project insight, operational experience and emerging research. Attendees will have time to meet and exchange ideas with peers across the geoscience and policy communities.

The call for abstracts is open until 15 December