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National research: Porous rocks can store enough energy to power cities
Science
Энергетика

National research: Porous rocks can store enough energy to power cities

SAPO Notícias30 August 2026 at 08:49

A theoretical study demonstrated that porous rocks at depth can store enough energy to supply small cities, constituting an alternative to dependence on fossil fuels such as gas. The research was published this month in the journal Geoenergy.

The work was developed by researchers from the GeoBioTec center at the Faculty of Sciences. The study focused on the possibility of using underground rock formations as large-scale energy storage reservoirs.

The research represents an innovative approach to the energy transition, exploring the natural capacity of geological storage. Porous rocks, due to their internal structure, allow large volumes of energy to be stored in the form of pressurized fluids.

This solution emerges in response to the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, offering a sustainable alternative for energy storage in smaller urban contexts.

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