Oceanic Energy Storage Breakthrough: How Sizable Energy’s Saltwater Solution Could Revolutionize Grid-Scale Power

The Challenge of Renewable Energy Storage

As the world transitions toward renewable energy sources, one critical challenge remains: how to store electricity when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Traditional grid-scale batteries are expensive and limited in duration, while conventional pumped hydro storage requires specific geographical features that aren’t widely available. This storage gap represents one of the most significant obstacles to achieving a fully renewable energy grid., according to market developments

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From Mountain Reservoirs to Ocean Depths

Manuele Aufiero’s childhood experiences with pumped-storage hydropower in northern Italy inspired an innovative solution to this global problem. While traditional pumped hydro facilities store energy by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations, Aufiero recognized that this approach faces geographical limitations. “I’m in love with pumped hydro,” Aufiero told TechCrunch, “but it’s just not enough to keep up with renewables.”, according to related news

This realization led to the founding of Sizable Energy, a startup that’s adapting the century-old concept of pumped hydro for the ocean environment. The company recently secured $8 million in funding from investors including Playground Global, EDEN/IAG, and Verve Ventures, signaling strong confidence in their novel approach to energy storage.

Sizable’s Innovative Technology

The company’s system features an elegant design that resembles an underwater hourglass. Two flexible, sealed reservoirs—one floating near the surface and another resting on the seabed—are connected by a plastic tube containing turbines. The key innovation lies in using salt concentration rather than elevation to create the energy storage potential., as additional insights

When electricity is abundant and inexpensive, the turbines pump supersaturated saltwater from the bottom reservoir to the top one. When grid demand increases, a valve opens, and the heavier saltwater flows downward due to its higher density compared to the surrounding seawater. This flow spins the turbines, which generate electricity as the water returns to the lower reservoir., according to industry experts

“From the energy balance point of view, what we are doing is lifting blocks of salt,” Aufiero explained. “But instead of using cranes, we dissolve it and pump it because it’s easier and simpler. Other than that, we’re just lifting a heavy amount of salt.”, according to market developments

Advantages Over Traditional Approaches

Sizable’s marine-based approach offers several significant advantages over land-based energy storage solutions:, according to industry analysis

• Manufacturing scalability: Unlike traditional pumped hydro facilities that require custom engineering for each location, Sizable’s offshore systems can be standardized and mass-produced
• Geographical flexibility: The technology can be deployed in any deepwater location (minimum 500 meters depth), dramatically expanding potential sites
• Cost efficiency: The company aims to deliver energy storage at approximately €20 per kilowatt-hour, roughly one-tenth the cost of grid-scale batteries
• Natural integration: The systems pair naturally with offshore wind projects, sharing electrical connections to reduce infrastructure costs

Current Progress and Future Plans

Sizable Energy has already tested scaled models of their technology in wave tanks and off the coast of Reggio Calabria, Italy. The company is currently deploying pilot versions of the floating components in preparation for a full demonstration plant. According to their roadmap, commercial projects could be operational at multiple global sites by 2026.

At full scale, each turbine is projected to generate 6-7 megawatts of electricity, with installations spaced approximately every 100 meters along the connecting pipe. Deeper deployment sites offer greater storage potential, and commercial installations would feature multiple reservoir systems working in concert.

The Bigger Picture for Grid Resilience

As Aufiero emphasizes, the need for long-duration energy storage extends beyond simply integrating renewable sources. “We believe that long duration energy storage is required not only for renewable integration, but also for just making the grid resilient,” he said. “There’s no way we can keep up with that with traditional pumped hydro or batteries. We need something new.”

This perspective aligns with growing recognition among energy experts that grid-scale storage solutions must evolve to support the transition to renewable energy. The International Energy Agency has documented the critical role that advanced storage technologies will play in achieving global climate targets.

According to BloombergNEF analysis, the global energy storage market is poised for significant growth, with innovative technologies like Sizable’s potentially capturing substantial market share as costs decline and performance improves.

Looking Ahead

Sizable Energy’s approach represents a promising development in the quest for affordable, scalable, long-duration energy storage. By leveraging the natural properties of saltwater and the vast potential of ocean deployment, the company aims to overcome the geographical limitations that have constrained traditional pumped hydro storage.

As the company progresses toward commercial deployment, their technology could play a crucial role in enabling higher penetration of renewable energy sources worldwide. For more information about their innovative approach, visit Sizable Energy’s official website.

The success of such technologies will be essential not only for integrating renewables but for building the resilient, reliable energy grids of the future—grids capable of supporting our increasingly electrified world while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

References & Further Reading

This article draws from multiple authoritative sources. For more information, please consult:

• https://www.iea.org/energy-system/electricity/grid-scale-storage
• https://sizableenergy.com/
• https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-energy/global-energy-storage-growth-upheld-by-new-markets/

This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

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