
Market, Policy, and Environmental Impact Analyses of a Novel 3D Concrete Printed Marine Pumped Hydroelectric Storage Technology
While global extrication from humanity’s fossil fuel dependency is critical, the United States' clean energy transition cannot take place without a long duration energy storage solution operating in tandem with renewable energy development. Particularly with the generation of offshore wind energy, there are no commercially available energy storage technologies suited for turbine integration, grid connection, or the marine environment. Thus, our research investigated and evaluated the disruptive marine pumped hydroelectric storage (M-PHES) technology of RCAM Technologies: a start-up based in Los Angeles, California that uses proprietary 3D concrete printing to create novel energy storage spheres for pairing with offshore wind. Our project scope included developing a revenue model for the commercial application, identifying ideal markets for pilot installations, outlining the regulatory implications and permitting processes involved in going to market, creating relevant geospatial visualizations, and assessing the potential environmental impact of the device on marine life as well as the impact on various stakeholders. In addition, our team attended the Business Network for Offshore Wind’s International Partnering Forum in 2022 to meet with industry experts and serve as an informal networking extension of the RCAM team, where they were being recognized as an innovative start-up. Our findings were utilized in multiple real-time funding proposals and grants for which RCAM was competing and will continue to inform the company's strategic efforts going forward.
Haley Dalian (SusSys), Michael Storch Jr. (SusSys), Charles Song (GDS), Fiona Fox (GDS), Eamon Espey (GDS), Shiyu DIng (GDS)