Energy storage under desert environments

A method for subterranean energy storage, the method comprising:

• cooling a hot compressed gas stream via a heat exchanger to form a cooled compressed gas stream;
• supplying the cooled compressed gas stream to a subterranean flexible storage vessel that is at least partially surrounded by sand, wherein the subterranean flexible storage vessel is coupled to a turbine generator;
• supplying a heated coolant stream from an insulated storage vessel to a turbine generator, wherein the heated coolant stream is a product of the heat exchanger removing heat from a hot compressed gas stream to render the cooled compressed gas stream;
• and
• heating the cooled compressed gas stream within the subterranean flexible storage vessel via conduction with the sand, wherein the heating pressurizes the subterranean flexible storage vessel.

A system for subterranean energy storage, the system comprising:

• a flexible storage vessel positioned within a body of desert sand, wherein the flexible storage vessel is configured to hold a cooled compressed gas;
• a turbine generator coupled to the flexible storage vessel, wherein the cooled compressed gas is pressurized by conduction heating from the body of desert sand to render a pressurized gas;
• a compressor unit configured to compress a gas stream to render a hot compressed gas stream;
• a heat exchanger configured to cool the hot compressed gas stream to render the cooled compressed gas;
• an insulated storage vessel configured to supply a heated coolant stream to a second turbine generator, wherein the heated coolant stream is a product of the heat exchanger removing heat from the hot compressed gas stream to render the cooled compressed gas;
• and
• a valve configured to control supply of the pressurized gas to the turbine generator.

A system for subterranean energy storage system, the system comprising:

• a flexible storage vessel positioned within a body of desert sand, wherein the flexible storage vessel is configured to hold a cooled compressed gas, wherein the flexible storage vessel is from a plurality of flexible storage vessels coupled to the heat exchanger;
• a turbine generator coupled to the flexible storage vessel, wherein the cooled compressed gas is pressurized by conduction heating from the body of desert sand to render a pressurized gas;
• a compressor unit configured to compress a gas stream to render a hot compressed gas stream;
• a heat exchanger configured to cool the hot compressed gas stream to render the cooled compressed gas;
• a valve configured to control supply of the pressurized gas to the turbine generator;
• a second valve configured to control supply of the cooled compressed gas to the flexible storage vessel;
• and
• a third valve configured to control supply of the cooled compressed gas to a second flexible storage vessel from the plurality of flexible storage vessels.