Role of desalinated seawater groundwater recharge for seasonal energy storage

This study examines the potential of using desalinated seawater for seasonal groundwater recharge as an innovative energy storage strategy in arid regions, focusing on Qatar. It proposes an alternative of seasonal storage to optimize energy and water supply by recharging aquifers with desalinated seawater during low electricity demand, primarily in winter. The study evaluates the groundwater recharge potential, identifying suitable sites based on hydrogeological parameters and assessing the energy storage capacity for optimized system efficiency. Results show that up to 2.57 TWh of seasonal energy can be stored using groundwater recharge, equivalent to 40.6 % of Qatar's seasonal energy storage needs, assuming a constant monthly supply of electricity and increased in water demand for agriculture. Additionally, storing desalinated water underground offers added benefits such as thermal energy storage, improved water security, and reduced groundwater salinity. The paper proposes two reservoir locations to store energy and water in Qatar. It provides a detailed cost assessment, concluding that desalinated groundwater recharge presents a cost-effective (estimated energy storage investment cost of 0.385 USD/kWh), scalable, and multi-functional solution to support Qatar's energy and water security objectives as it pursues decarbonization targets under Vision 2030.