Pleuger Industries, a ‘developer of submersible motor pump technologies’, has confirmed its role in advancing subsea energy storage with the StEnSea (Stored Energy in the Sea) project. Since the project’s early development in 2012, and in partnership with
Fraunhofer IEE (Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology) and
Sperra (it designs and manufactures structural systems for renewable energy in offshore and other aquatic environments and was formerly known as RCAM Technologies), Pleuger’s expertise in submersible pump systems is helping facilitate ‘a new era of renewable energy storage solutions’.
The StEnSea project, initially conceived by the German Fraunhofer Institute, seeks to ‘revolutionise long-duration energy storage’ by adapting the principles of pumped storage hydropower for subsea environments. The project’s approach to energy storage by placing hollow concrete spheres on the seabed at depths of 600 to 800m. When electricity demand is low, these spheres are emptied of water using Pleuger’s specially designed submersible pumps to store potential energy. During peak demand, water is allowed to flow back into the spheres, turning the pumps into turbines that generate electricity — mirroring the traditional pumped storage hydropower but adapting it for the subsea environment by leveraging ocean pressure to store and release energy efficiently.
A comprehensive GIS analysis of coastal marine areas has revealed numerous potential locations for deploying this technology globally, including off the coasts of Norway, Portugal, the US East and West Coasts, Brazil, and Japan. The technology is also suitable for deep natural or artificial lakes, such as flooded open-pit mines, further expanding its application potential.
The StEnSea project has received substantial financial backing from both the US and German governments, highlighting its significance and the confidence of its ‘potential global impact’. The US Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has awarded the project $4,000,000, while the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has committed 3,700,000 euros.
Anton Schneerson, Pleuger Industries’ CEO, said: “The global energy transition demands transformative, scalable solutions, and Pleuger is leading the way. Our ‘Stored Energy in the Sea’ project aligns with our strategy to expand in renewables, advancing ocean-based technology that redefines sustainable energy. Pleuger has been involved with StEnSea since its inception, contributing to the development of the first prototype with a specially designed underwater pump. Now, with this substantial funding and international partnership, the project is scaling up to include a 10m prototype capable of generating 0.5MW of power at depths exceeding 600m.”