Opportunities for the future development of energy infrastructure after production closure in the KGHM shaft, by the example of the creation of an underground pumped – storage hydropower plant

Abstract

The article touches on the technical and technological aspects in the field of the possibility of creating energy infrastructure after the end of production in a selected shaft of “KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.” A cascade system of placing turbines in the shaft was proposed and the possibility of its creation was evaluated, respecting the dimensions of the turbines and the shaft. During the analysis, the relevant turbine capacities, flows, infrastructure dimensions, and possible solutions to overcome the limitations of developing an Underground Peak and Pumped Storage Power Plant (UPSH) in a post-mining facility were examined.