Opening Ceremony of the Underground Sun Storage

The opening ceremony was attended by key representatives from the energy sector, academics and distinguished state representatives, including the Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Alois Stöger, who positively evaluated the project: “Research facilities like this one make a valuable contribution to implementing developments in renewable energy technology.”

The start of the operation of the Underground Sun Storage facility gives us the possibility to store energy from renewable energy sources, which is currently only possible to a limited degree. The success of the project will allow wind and solar energy to be stored in existing reliable and safe underground facilities. The project is supported by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund and will be completed in 2016.

The NAFTA Company was selected by the Austrian company, RAG, to participate in the creation of the reactive transport, subsurface integrity analysis and the preparation of the technical design and supply of the compressor test facility.

“The results from laboratory tests conducted as part of the project have been very promising, and have fed into implementation of the test facility. We are even more excited about the data and insights that operating the new installation will generate.” Markus Mitteregger, RAG CEO, project initiator.

“The partnership with RAG on the development of storage technologies for renewable energy is a major step forward for NAFTA. The possibility to cooperate in this project confirms our technological know-how and reflects our commitment to continual innovation of our products and services in the industry as a whole." Martin Bartošovič, NAFTA CEO, who attended the opening ceremony.