Active volume energy level large scale sub-sea energy fluids storage methods and apparatus for power generation and integration of renewable energy sources

a. System for storing energy in fluid form comprising:

• a, a fluid containment structure having an interior defined by a top, one or more sides, and a bottom, the fluid containment structure being configured to be operable when filled with fluid while submerged beneath a surface of a body of water at a preselected distance from a floor of the body of water;
• b. passage means adjacent the structure bottom for providing flow communication between, the structure interior and the body of water;
• c. conduit means operatively connected to the containment structure for providing flow communication between a source of an energy-containing fluid at/or adjacent the surface of the body of water and the structure interior, the flow of the energy-containing fluid entering the containment structure displacing an equivalent volume of water through the passage means;
• and
• d. pumping means for providing a flow of the energy-containing fluid into the containment structure interior against a back pressure essentially equal to the static pressure of the body of water at the preselected distance;
• e. the energy containing fluid source is a source of a liquefied gas, and wherein the system includes heat transfer means for transferring a quantity of heat from the body of water to the flowing liquefied gas sufficient to vaporize substantially all the flowing liquefied gas prior to entry into the containment structure interior.

Method for producing and storing hydrogen gas comprising:

• a. providing a gas containment structure having an interior defined by a top, one or more sides, and a bottom;
• b. positioning the containment structure below a surface of a body of sea water, the structure being configured for sea water flow communication between the body of sea water and the structure interior at a location adjacent the structure bottom;
• c. selecting a material reactive with sea water to produce hydrogen gas;
• d. transporting the material to the interior of the structure proximate the structure bottom while preventing substantial contact between the body of sea water and the reactive material before reaching the structure interior;
• e. evolving hydrogen gas within the structure interior by reacting the reactive material with sea water;
• and
• f. displacing a volume of sea water from the containment structure interior substantially equivalent to that of the evolved hydrogen gas.

Apparatus for storing and retrieving fresh water beneath a body of salt water or brackish water, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a fluid containment structure having an interior defined by a top, one or more sides, and a bottom, the fluid containment structure being configured to be operable when filled with fresh water while submerged beneath a surface of a body of salt water or brackish water at a preselected distance from a floor of the body of water;
• b. one or more openings in the structure adjacent the structure bottom for providing flow communication between the structure interior and the body of salt water or brackish water;
• c. one or more conduits operatively connected to the top of the containment structure for providing flow communication between a source of fresh water at/or adjacent the surface of the body of salt water or brackish water and the structure interior, the flow of the fresh water entering the containment structure displacing an equivalent volume of salt water or brackish water through the one or more openings;
• and
• d. a flexible bladder or impermeable membrane positioned within the structure between the top and the bottom of the structure and above the one or more openings, the bladder or membrane being configured to separate the fresh water stored in the structure interior adjacent the top of the structure from the sea water or brackish water adjacent the bottom of the structure;
• and
• e. a pump for providing a flow of the fresh water through the conduits and through the top of the containment structure into the interior for storage.