ABSTRACT
The success of the inclusion of intermittent renewable energies motivated by greenhouse gas emission reduction policies, dependence on many pillars, two of which can be reinforced by scientific advances in order to solve the problem of storage of energy. Despite the change in the current energy model, with the reduction of dependence on fossil resources, mining could play another relevant role in the energy model based on sustainability. A key parameter study was conducted to define the dimensions necessary to transform underground coal mines into an underground energy storage: túnel–compressed air energy storage (CAES) concept is proposed as a solution to store renewable energy. An inventory of the possible locations for this technology has been prepared, studying the available capacity from the abandoned coal mines of the province of León (Spain), seeking to exemplify a model of optimal transition in the abandonment of underground coal mines.
